AND OTHER SKETCHES 



35 



was the attractive spot, and a close inspection of Terror's 

 form only the more strengthened the love of his admirers 

 and weakened the backbone of those who pinned their 

 faith on something else. 



When the pool box, presided over by Quimby, opened 

 at eight o'clock in the office of the Robson House, the 

 place was densely crowded and speculation was brisk. 

 The pool-seller's card showed a large entry, it being a 

 certainty that the following ten horses would face the 

 starter: Terror, Jack on the Green, Rathowen, Highland 

 Maid, Gaiety, Rapid Roan, Liberty, Jack Bell, Lady May 

 and New Dominion. The number engaged was suffi- 

 ciently large to tempt the rural speculators, whose am- 

 bition soared no higher than five dollars' worth of any- 

 thing, and who were content after the picking and 

 choosing had been finished, to take whatever was left in 

 the field, so long as it didn't top the V. Terror, as ex- 

 pected, had the call and steadily maintained his position, 

 with Jack on the Green and Rathowen next in order, and 

 the field taking in the balance. The Guelph division 

 was sweet on the last named, and my old friend, the late 

 W. A. Bookless, ably supported by Messrs. Sharp, Dick- 

 son and others, snapped him up at his price as often as 

 the chance offered. During the whole of the evening 

 Jack Bell had gone in the "Field," and about nine o'clock 

 Charley Gates, his owner, strolled into the pool-room and 

 was forthwith badgered by Quimby to select his horse as 

 a ''Choice" at some price. Gates objected to any such 

 l)romotion, but Quimby, despite the objection, knocked 

 Bell down to him once for $5 in a $45 pool. Even at this 

 figure Gates fought shy and refused the ticket. From 

 then to the close of the evening's business the horse again 

 sold as a fielder, the lot bringing $5 in pools averaging 

 about $50 to $60. 



The morning trains on the Queen's Birthday carried 

 large numbers to the county town of Ontario, and at the 

 advertised hour of commencement, several thousand peo- 

 ple assembled at the course. Conspicuous on the Club 

 stand were the Hon. John Sandfield Macdonald, Premier 



