128 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



the post fit to run for a kingdom. At the last moment 

 I was so much impressed by his appearance as he 

 went down to meet the starter, that I hurried off to 

 the pari 7/nitJielhoyi and put sixty rupees on him. The 

 box was well patronised that day, and I was delighted 

 to learn from the casual remarks of the many backers 

 that my selection found no favour. The flag fell, and 

 up came the horses along the straight and past the 

 stand with Karpos leading them by a couple of lengths, 

 and going as strong as a steam-engine. I turned with 

 an exclamation of delight to an acquaintance who was 

 just behind me, and caught him in the act of depositing 

 a ticket. I seized his arm and told him that the box 

 should have been closed, and that he must not put any- 

 thing in. " It's only five rupees on Karpos," he said ; 

 and with that he dropped the pasteboard into the box. 

 I thought he lied, but as I wanted to see the race I let 

 the matter be. When the horses had reached the mile 

 post on the far side of the course, and it was apparent to 

 every one that Karpos could not help winning, unless 

 he fell down at least a couple of times, I felt a man 

 brush past me as he went in the direction of the pa7'i 

 inutuel table. His'hand, too, carried a ticket with the 

 name of Karpos written on ; but I was too sharp for 



