Q2 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



One of the most important events of that meeting 

 was the i^ mile all horse handicap. Karpos, lost., 

 Merryman, 8 st. 2 lbs., Ida, 6 st. 10 lbs., and Ranelagh, 

 7 St. 9 lbs., were entered for it. Our horse got pricked 

 in shoeing five or six days before running, so we called 

 in Mayhew the farrier to treat him. Mayhew cut with 

 a drawing knife boldly down on the offending nail from 

 the outside, put the foot in a poultice, which was kept 

 on all night, and applied a bar shoe, with the result that 

 the son of Peeping Tom and Princess was out next day 

 sound as a bell. Luckily no one else saw him go sound, 

 so we profited by the report of his lameness ; gave him 

 a couple of gallops by moonlight ; bought him in the 

 lotteries ; backed him besides ; engaged Gooch, to whom 

 we promised a hundred rupees and his winning mount, 

 to ride ; and had the satisfaction of seeing him canter in 

 the easiest of winners ; with Karpos, ridden by Dignum, 

 second. The much fancied Ida and Mcrr}^man were 

 beaten off. When Gooch got into the scales to weigh 

 in, he could not, to our horror, pull the weight, even 

 with the assistance of the bridle. I could have shrieked 

 with laughter had not that moment been too serious for 

 mirth, at seeing old George almost burst himself, while 

 his eyes were starting out of their sockets, in the frantic 



