112 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



horse was, the weight was too crushing, and Cast Off 

 won in an exercise canter. 



I should have done well at that meeting had I 

 refrained — but what man can refrain ? — from leaving 

 my money in the air ; I mean backing a horse in the 

 " lep " race. Donaldson had brought Captain Phillip's 

 Challenger to run in the hurdle race, for which I had 

 entered Brown Duchess. There were three or four other 

 runners, among the rest a country-bred "tat" about 13.2, 

 called Doddles. This animal, though as slow as a man, 

 was an undeniable jumper. Captain Knox, of the 8sth 

 K.L.I. , rode my mare, who got well away at the start, 

 jumped so big at the first hurdle that she broke one of 

 " Missy's " stirrup leathers, and raced at the next hurdle 

 with all her wonted impetuosity. But " Missy " was on 

 her way to England on leave, he thought — well, he 

 hadn't much time for thinking — for not liking the pace 

 with only one stirrup leather, he pulled the mare round, 

 and before he could get her into a collected canter, the 

 despised Doddles had cleared all the obstacles and won 

 the race, for which I had backed the mare for all the 

 money I could get on. Challenger, being in an uncer- 

 tain mood, would have nothing to say to the hurdles. 



That fine old sportsman, Mr. Rainsford, was the chief 



