70 SPORTING STORIES 



we really thought it was going to be another tie ; but when 

 they both called on their horses, Tommy's whip drove 

 Hue and Cry swerving on to the railing side, as she had 

 no Lady Barbara to lean against, and George, sending her 

 ladyship along, won by three lengths. It was the most 

 remarkable display of judgment I ever saw, and though 

 sorry for Tom's defeat, no one begrudged losing by it, 

 as it was the head of a general that won the battle for 

 Danebury." 



A story is told of the connection between Fordham 

 and Mr Bowes which ought to be true if it is not. It is 

 popularly supposed that during the score of years in which 

 Fordham had Mr Bowes for master he only saw him once, 

 and that the meeting came about in this wise. Ascot had 

 attracted its customary team of the Whitehill horses, and 

 Fordham was saddling one of the Northern nags in the 

 paddock. A grey-haired stranger watched the proceedings 

 with what the jockey thought was a greater degree of 

 interest than a casual looker-on was entitled to show, so 

 that by degrees the usually amiable countenance of old 

 George assumed a decidedly morose expression. At length 

 the stranger ventured to ask a question. Would the jockey 

 be so good as to tell him the name of the horse he was 

 saddling ? " What the dickens have you to do with it ? " 

 burst out the irritated rider ; " who the devil are you ? " 

 " Well," apologetically replied the grey-haired gentleman, 

 " I think that I am the owner of that animal. My name 

 is John Bowes." 



Mat Dawson was the hero of a somewhat similar anec- 

 dote. When Mat trained for Lord John Scott, the latter's 

 brother, the Duke of Buccleuch, paid him a visit, and as 

 a matter of course was taken down to see the stud. Mat 

 being in attendance. Lord John led the way from box 

 to box, describing each one as he went along ; crying, 

 " Wattie " (this was the Duke), " come and see this one. 

 Wattie, I think this one will win the Derby," and so on, until 

 presently Wattie and Mat fell a little behind. Then Mat 

 taps him on the shoulder. " Now Wattie, when his Lordship 

 goes to bed to-night, slip down and I will give you a glass of 

 toddy " ; and Wattie accepted. What transpired deponent 



