272 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



As Reformation had to meet in his first race — which 

 was for half a mile — a smart mare called Polly, that 

 belonered to Mr. Thuillier and had won for him a lot of 

 money at the Umballa meeting of the previous year, 



I backed him for a little in the lotteries with extreme 

 reluctance, and gave my jockey a leg-up with the sad 

 feelings of a man who is forced to support sport, much 

 against his will, at the expense of his pocket. I was 

 surprised beyond measure to see him collar the mare 

 fifty yards from home, and then win as he liked by 

 a couple of lengths. On the second day, as he had 

 something better to meet, and as the distance was two 

 furlongs more, I was still more despondent, as I never 

 believed the old roarer could "get" three-quarters of 

 a mile. I was wrong again, for he repeated his perform- 

 ance of the previous day, only winning still more easily. 

 An hour after that he came out to run for the half-mile 

 handicap, in which he carried the steadying weight of 



II St., against Polly, Lady Aid, Empress, and Vesta. 

 As I walked down to start the horses, I determined that 

 Reformation should not be first away, for independently 

 of his being my property, I almost resented his " kid- 

 ding" me in the disgraceful manner he had done. As 

 the other horses walked up and got into line, with 



