100 canadia:n^ tuef eecollections 



bell called up the starters in tlie race Eaven was selling 

 favorite. There was not much time lost in getting them 

 away, and when the flag went down Harry Brown sent 

 Eaven to the front and he carried his field along in merry 

 fashion. Uncle Joe was standing in the field near the 

 judges' stand and was so delighted with the way his 

 favorite was running that, following his usual custom 

 when in a happy frame of mind, he commenced to speak 

 out his ideas about the race. 



As the horses went by the judges ' stand at the end of 

 the first half mile Eaven had a clear lead of two lengths 

 and was running well within himself. I was standing at 

 Uncle Joe's elbow as they swept by, and I shall never 

 forget the cheery ring of his voice as he shouted, "they'll 

 never catch him. No, sir 'ee, they may as well chase their 

 own shadow as that black rascal to-day. Look at him 

 boys — isn't he a race horse? Who wants to bet twenty 

 against a hundred that he '11 be headed in the race 1 I 'm 

 just looking for some man to open his mouth that way. 

 Come along, old boy." And as they went by the judges' 

 stand the second time, with the black fellow three lengths 

 on the lead. Uncle Joe kept on talking. 



''Why they can't stretch his neck. They're not in his 

 class, my hearties. He's a race horse, you can bet on that. 

 I say, Douglas, what crabs those horses are alongside of 

 him. Why, Peel, it's guineas to peanuts. Just look at 

 him, watch him there, will ye, just see him. Holy Jupiter, 

 he's down." And sure enough, swinging the upper turn 

 to the finish of the third half mile, the leader sulked a 

 little, and Brown foolishly gave him a sharp cut with his 

 whip. Quick as a flash he swerved away from the rail, 

 and as he did so his feet went from under him and he slid 

 half way across the track. Comment upon the change 

 that came over the little circle I had been standing along- 

 side of is scarcely necessary. Peel commenced to count 

 his pile to see if he had enough to carry him home. 

 Douglas started to chew straws and figure up his position, 

 while Uncle Joe declared it was his usual luck. ''An- 

 other sure thing gone to blazes." I forget now the name 



