210 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



Beresford, finished a fair third. Three finer horsemen 

 that day than Mr. Johnson, Mr. Short, and Lord 

 WilHam, it would have been hard to find. 



Mr. Johnson's luck, I am sorry to say, came somewhat 

 late. When he first arrived in England from Canada 

 he was an extraordinary good "sprinter;" but the big 

 Sheffield handicap, which was to have made his fortune, 

 never came " off." He enlisted, and was sent to the Can- 

 terbury Riding establishment, where he was known as 

 the smartest non-commissioned officer in the service. In 

 a short time he got his commission in the nth Hussars, 

 who had reason to be proud of their young subaltern, 

 for he was good-looking, " the best of company," and 

 one of the sweetest singers ever heard on or off the 

 stage, besides being one of the best " drills " that ever 

 handled a regiment on parade. But he would back his 

 luck, whether in or out of it. At first the jade favoured 

 him, and then she deserted him. On one occasion,, 

 at Umballa, he stood to win a great stake on his horse, 

 April Fool, in the big steeplechase, and when he had his 

 field settled, and had only to canter home, poor April 

 Fool broke a hind leg, and the chance was gone. Again, 

 on the same course, Teddy O'Neil, late Barrister, carrying 

 ^Ir. Johnson and a pile of money, fell when it was lOO 



