AND OTHER SKETCHES 135 



between the past and present favorite, but to the amaze- 

 ment of everybody, no sooner were the leaders fairly 

 squared for home than Bay Jack made his run, coming 

 up like a bullet. Down the stretch they come, a trio 

 linked head and head. Once more whip and spur are 

 brought into requisition and all the arts practised to gain 

 a point. At the draw-gates Rathowen has a head the best 

 of it, but half way from there Bay Jack makes another 

 effort, and the salvos of ''Hip, hip, hurrah," pronounce 

 that the rank outsider has caught the judge's eye first. 

 Once more the pool-seller's voice is heard, and again an 

 excited crowd throngs the stand. Those who started in 

 on the first favorite, and afterwards played Rathowen 

 for a saver, are clamorous for a chance to hedge again, 

 and soon Bay Jack rules at $50 to $20 over the party. 

 The fifth heat was a grand struggle between the latest 

 favorite and Rathowen, and I still incline to the belief 

 that if Flint had shown a little more patience on Rath- 

 owen he would have won the heat ; but he made his run too 

 soon, and his horse, dying away at the draw-gate, was 

 caught by the Londoner and beaten out by half a length. 

 The sixth heat was an easy victory for Bay Jack, whose 

 rest up in the first three heats now told hugely in his 

 favor, and though a gallant effort was made by his com- 

 pany the little bay stallion shook them off and landed the 

 richest harvest of the season for his backers. 



