256 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



about ; while the hands alone should be employed to 

 keep his head down. For this race, Yanathon was the 

 least fancied of the three, as no one except Mr. Crowdy 

 and myself believed he would jump, on account of his 

 bad running the previous day in the steeplechase, for 

 which Gameboy, Mr. Garratt's INIickey Free, and Vesper 

 had also contended. The first fence in this event was a 

 broad " Irish double," which was the exact kind of 

 obstacle I knew, from experience, Yanathon would 

 not jump under any amount of persuasion. I gave 

 the mount on him to a young indigo-planter, from 

 whom I took both spurs and whip, as I did not want 

 the horse to be "knocked about ; " and when my jockey 

 asked for orders, I replied, "Just sail away," which he 

 accordingly did when the flag fell, but refused, as I had 

 expected, at the double, and could not be induced even 

 to attempt it. Gameboy, having the same old martin- 

 gale on, also refused. Unfortunatel}-, Mickey Free was 

 steered by Harry Crowdy, whose taste for riding my 

 friend Bob, brother-like, used to endeavour to repress on 

 all occasions. A mile and a half from home Bob ranged 

 alongside Harry, and, as he had the race in hand when- 

 ever he chose to come away and win it, he commenced 

 to chaff and " bustle " the young one, who gave back 



