70 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



so as to enable Tobin to win cleverly, for he was one of 

 the sort, just like many a horse, that, though thoroughly 

 " game," gets discouraged by defeat. Whenever I found , 

 as I timed him in his spins, that he was making no 

 improvement on his last essay, I used to promptly give 

 him a couple of days' rest. As soon as he learned to 

 move in proper spiked running shoes, the watch showed, 

 as I had expected, that he was capable of beating " even 

 time." Being an old ped., I know what a bold asser- 

 tion this is, yet I make it with absolute confidence in 

 its correctness. The man who used to lead him in his 

 gallops was the best runner in Cork, and could do his 

 lOO yards comfortably in 1 1 sees., yet Tobin, giving him 

 1 1 yards start, could always defeat him by a yard or 

 two. Had I had Tobin for a }'ear, I believe he would 

 have turned out a second Harry Hutchens. 



At the time I was training my young countryman, I 

 belonged to the Cork City Club, at which there was a 

 good deal of high play. As most of the officers of the 

 garrison were members, and as they " fancied " Mr. Mar- 

 ryat's chance immensely, there was some very heavy 

 wagering between them and my friends, whom I " put 

 on " this very "good thing." Before the race, our party 

 had over ^^3,000 on it. On the day it came off, the 



