84 EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 



an entry against the above horses. But I had any amount of 

 confidence in this horse when he was right, and was sure he 

 would get some of the money in most any class I started him 

 in. J. J. Bowen, of Boston, had an entry for sale, as his 

 horse had went amiss and I bought it at a little discount. 

 The entry cost him $1,000 ; I purchased it for $750 ; most 

 people thought I was crazy. I told the boys it was his money, 

 that is the King's, for he always had a fair bank account, and 

 it would be a queer race if he did not get some of the money. 

 When the day of the race arrived the horses all appeared, and 

 seemed to be in first-class order with the exception of the 

 King. I did not like him very well as he had got the net off 

 several times lately and abused himself. He was consequently 

 weak in his hind parts and was not good by any means. 

 When the race was called and positions drawn for, Harry 

 Wilkes drew the pole ; Maud Messenger, second ; King, third ; 

 Phil. Thompson, fourth ; Captain Emmons, fifth ; Adelaide, 

 sixth, and Felix outside. We done a great deal of hard scor- 

 ing. I don't think I ever saw horses score as fast in all my 

 life as they did. King Almont could score as fast as any 

 man's animal, so I had no fears about the send off. 



Three of these horses, as every one knew, had more speed 

 than King, and my only hope was in outacting them or out- 

 staying the party if it came to a long race. I soon discovered 

 they were all anxious to have the best of the send off, as they 

 all came fast. We would all go well up the stretch except 

 Phil Thompson before we turned. He would come up behind 

 us and turn right in front. I came near running over him sev- 

 eral times with King. At one time as he turned I caught his 

 wheel with my thill and came near upsetting him, throwing 

 Sneider nearly out of his seat, but he grabbed into some part 

 of the harness and recovered himself, which brought great ap- 

 plause from the grand stand, as it prevented an accident. I 

 was bound to get the word on even terms with the rest of 

 them, so if any of the fast ones should make a mistake I 

 could take advantage of it. We finally got the word at a 



