MISTAKE WITH 'JOE MILLER: 13 



kept for his Stockbridge engagements. But the resolve 

 had no sooner been made than it was broken. For 

 suddenly, at all risks, he would have him run at 

 Ascot, where he was sent about three parts fit, having 

 had but a hurried preparation. Luckily he just won 

 the New Stakes ; plainly showing, as I have before 

 said, all that Mr. Padwick wanted was to see his 

 horses kept running. The condition they were in 

 was to him of little consequence, notwithstanding that 

 he was sure to back them for a good stake. "Now this 

 was not, in my opinion, the action of a clever, nor, 

 indeed, of a discreet man. 



In another instance, that of Joe Miller, he showed 

 a similar faulty judgment. When this horse was two 

 years old, he was the property of Messrs. Padwick, 

 Parker and Farrance. I thought well of him, and 

 backed him for his race at Stockbridge, as they did. 

 Here he met Chief Baron Nicholson (called after the 

 presiding genius of 'the Coal-hole') and Kingston. 

 At the distance, I thought the former would win 

 easily ; and as I did not want to be second, or run up 

 a good third, I did not persevere with my horse, 

 knowing I could not win. The result was a dead- 

 heat between The Baron and Kingston, the former, 

 through want of condition, standing still in the last 

 hundred yards. This I told Mr. Padwick. It was 

 run off, ending in a second dead-heat and a division. 

 This result would go to prove that the condition of 

 Chief Baron Nicholson was as good as that of the 



