QUEER CHARACTERS OF THE TURF 75 



before them at West of Ireland race meetings. Mr Brown 

 never forgot what a debt of gratitude he owed to the 

 gelding, the mare, and the hunchback, who had saved him 

 from ruin. When the horses died, he had their heads 

 splendidly mounted, and placed in the most conspicuous 

 part of his hall. And when Shawm got unfit for riding 

 and unable to move about himself, his grateful master 

 engaged a man to wait on him, and allowed him a bottle 

 of wine every day, with plenty of pocket-money. Shawm 

 could not speak a word of English, but he was a terrible 

 master of the Irish tongue. He was as abusive as he was 

 deformed. He had civility for his horses alone ; to them 

 he was kind, and, according to report, the noble animals 

 reciprocated his affection. He was buried in his riding- 

 dress, and had what his neighbours called a very respectable 

 funeral, all the sportsmen of the place turning out in his 

 honour. He was drawn to his grave by two racers, both 

 the offspring of his favourite Mother Brown. 



Another eccentric figure on the race-course was Mr John 

 Dilly, a once well-known trainer, whose extravagance and 

 recklessness became a byword. After borrowing of any 

 and every one he could, and having tired out all his 

 relations, he hit upon the following successful scheme to 

 raise £2^ from his brother. He was then living at New- 

 market, and his brother, Mr Montgomery Dilly, at Littleton, 

 in Hampshire. John Dilly wrote to the latter in a 

 disguised hand: — 



" Dear Sir, — I am sorry to inform you your poor 

 brother, Mr John, is no more. He departed this life this 

 morning, almost without a struggle. Feeling sure you 

 would like him to have a decent burial, I have given 

 instructions to the undertaker to see this carried out. I 

 think the expense will be about £}f>\ but if you send your 

 cheque for £2^, I will get the accounts, and send them to 

 you as soon as the funeral is over. I hope you will not 

 think I am officious in this matter, but if there is anything 

 else you wish to have done, please let me know, and I will 

 attend to it. — Yours faithfully, 



William Smallbody." 



