SUSPICIONS. 279 



most peculiar and exceptional kind. Forty or fifty 

 years ago the sums of money betted upon the 

 Derby were so large, and the excitement so great, 

 that it is difficult for a younger generation 'of race- 

 goers to understand or realise the anxiety and 

 sense of responsibility of a trainer who was in 

 charge of such a favourite as Surplice was in 1848. 

 I was not unaware that tempting overtures had 

 been made surreptitiously to more than one em- 

 ployee in the Goodwood stable to lame Surplice ; 

 and if he had run badly in the race, suspicion 

 would doubtless have attached to many innocent 

 persons who were as eager to see him win as my 

 father and I were. It will easily be imagined, 

 therefore, with what feelings I saw the dawn of 

 the Derby Day break. 



My father and I rode by the horse's side from 

 Headley to the course. I then dismounted and 

 led Surplice, while his regular lad rode him, and 

 two police officers walked immediately in his rear. 

 On nearing the stand, my father went off to see 

 Templeman weighed, and returned to inform me 

 that even at the eleventh hour Mr Francis Villiers 

 had not given up all hope that Loadstone would 

 prove himself the better horse, and, in order to give 

 Loadstone every chance, had made some consid- 

 erable pecuniary sacrifice in order to secure Job 

 Marson (one of Mr Yilliers's favourite jockeys) to 

 ride him. It was not long before Mr Villiers was 

 undeceived. The following seventeen horses came 



