51 



Mr. Ten Broeck had so much confidence in my judg- 

 ment that he wagered $25,000 with Lord Parish that Sal lie 

 Ward would win the next heat. Now, as I have said, Grace 

 Darling had never lost a race where the heats were broken- 

 for the reason that she had wonderful powers of endurance. 

 The Britisher was so confident that his mare would win that 

 he readily put up the money, and he went further and agreed 

 to bet his famous mare Gipsy, a full sister to Medoc, on the 

 result. Mr. Ten Broeck was only too delighted at this prop- 

 osition, for he had long been trying to buy Gipsy, believing 

 her to be a comer. 



For the last and deciding heat we got oflf evenly, and I 

 let Grace Darling get in the lead. I was never far away, 

 though, and always had her at my mercy. On we went with 

 the speed of the wind. Grace Darling was pressed to her 

 utmost, and was doing her level best at every stride. On the 

 other hand, I was holding my horse in reserve. Lord Parish 

 thought he had won and his face was wreathed in smiles, for 

 he saw himself the winner of about $50,000. He informed 

 Mr. Ten Broeck that it was all over but the shouting, and he 

 and his friends joked about the matter. But I was on Sallie 

 Ward, and I had not called on her for the supreme burst of 

 speed that I knew she had concealed in her graceful little 

 legs. 



We were on the last quarter. Grace Darling was lead- 

 ing still, but every nerve was in play and she was at her best. 

 I smiled and shook the rein a trifle. Sallie Ward moved up 

 quickly. I was at her flanks ; then at her saddle girths ; then 

 we were on even terms ; then Sallie Ward's pretty head was 

 shoved in front of that of the British horse. A low cluck 

 urged her on, and fast and faster flew her nimble feet. I 

 was a length ahead, and when we passed under the wire 

 there was daylight between us. I had won the greatest race 

 ever seen on a Canadian track. 



An Irishman, who had been following us through the 

 country and winning on our starters, bet we would win the 

 first heat. Before the second he came to me in the paddock 

 and asked me what I would do in the second. I told him I 

 hardly thought we would win. With this tip he bet his 

 money on the British horse. Of course, he won. Then, in- 

 stead of coming to me and getting another tip for the third, 



