SURPLICE AT THE ST LEGER. 291 



" It was one of the most desperate struggles ever seen — 

 Surplice proving himself as game and honest a horse as 

 ever breathed, to the great discomfiture of those who did 

 not hesitate to proclaim after the Derby that he was a 

 cur. Lord George Bentinck was not a little gratified at 

 witnessing the success of the produce of his favourite 

 mare. 



"There was a great deal of private gossip about the 

 substitution of Nat for Eobinson on Surplice's back, and 

 it was remotely hinted that suspicions had been excited, 

 first from Eobinson having been seen in conversation with 

 Messrs Green and Stebbings on the race-course on Tuesday 

 morning, and next from his having hedged the bet which 

 Lord Clifden had laid him — £1000 to £50 against Surplice. 

 We are quite satisfied, however, that such circumstances 

 would have no weight with Lord Clifden and his friends, 

 as the first was a mere commonplace occurrence, and the 

 second was a course which any prudent man would adopt, 

 according to the well-known racing principle, ' No bet is a 

 good bet until hedged.' " 



Whatever may have been the motive which 

 caused Nat to be substituted for Robinson, I am 

 in a position to state that it was done solely by 

 the advice, and at the instance, of Mr Harry Hill. 

 It is a satisfaction, however, to me to reflect that 

 such an occurrence never took place in the Good- 

 wood establishment during the thirty years of my 

 connection with it. 



The chicanery practised over this St Leger with 

 regard to Surplice was strongly commented upon 

 by numerous supporters of the Turf ; and had he 

 not been the superior horse he was, possessing 

 great speed with stoutness, he would in all prob- 



