Countess. 31 



which was won by Countess, who was subsequently 

 disqualified, and the race awarded to Tartar, who ran 

 second, on account of the mare not having carried a 

 penalty for a previous win in Australia. Her owner, I 

 believe, was well aware of her colonial performances, 

 but he was a non-racing man, never betted, had won 

 Countess in a raffle, was very fond of her, didn't see 

 why she should be penalized for her former win, didn't 

 see why her back should be broken by carrying the 

 top burden, so, without meaning ill, or wishing to 

 defraud any one, but with the strange wrong-headed- 

 ness of the non-sporting mind when it turns its atten- 

 tion to racing matters, innocently did that for which 

 you or I, my racing reader, might have been warned 

 off for a couple of years. The Gordon Highlanders 

 had come in force from Jullundur to back Tartar, who 

 was ridden by Major Eustace Hill of the Police. This 

 bold Peeler was supposed to be the most cast-iron man 

 in India ; and he well need have been, for the handsome 

 grey gelding, who wa-; then in the heyday of his power, 

 was as strong- necked a specimen of a puller as I have 

 ever seen. The lion-hearted major let him " rip." The 

 brave horse knocked down three or four walls, shivered 

 the strong post and rails, and tore through half a mile 



