1 62 MR. PARKER. 



the hope that there might be a chance of placing a fair 

 bet. But it was no good, and at the last minute she 

 "was struck out, whilst those who had forestalled us 

 were led to believe that she would not be run until 

 the latter end of the year. This had the desired effect, 

 and to their utter discomfiture we were enabled to 

 back her for all we wanted for the other three races 

 named, all of which she won. 



Mr. Parker was much blamed at the time for 

 leaving her in to the last moment. But he would 

 have run her if he could ; and as he could in no other 

 way protect himself, he adopted the only honourable 

 course. With respect to the Chester Cup, the mare 

 ran in the Palatine Stakes the first day, and was beat 

 by Theodora, much to our surprise and disappoint- 

 ment. Yet, as it turned out, this was one of the most 

 fortunate circumstances that could have happened for 

 us; for it drove her from 5 to 1 to 20 to 1 in the 

 betting for her race (the Cup) next day. After coolly 

 thinking the matter out, I said to Mr. Parker that 

 her defeat a mile and a quarter by a fast mare like 

 Theodora did not amount to much after all ; for that 

 she [One Act) was much better at two miles and a 

 quarter, a distance that many of her opponents would 

 not like. So I recommended him to take £2,000 to 

 £100 about her two or three times, as he was sure to 

 have good hedging before the start, as well as a good 

 race for his money. But he waited, and could only 

 get 15 to 1 to £200, for which he backed her. She 



