The Hunting Year 



has him beaten. But he fails to catch the pony, 

 who wins by a couple of lengths, whilst Robin- 

 son just manages to beat Jones, who has come 

 plodding on and seen all the fun, by the same 

 distance for third place; and Robinson goes 

 away with the idea that he has really ridden a 

 decent finish, don't you know, but is soon un- 

 deceived by the gentleman in pink telling him he 

 ought to have won, and pleased when he adds 

 that if he will take to it seriously he will make 

 a jockey some day. Then comes the light 

 weight race, and the farmers' race, which is 

 frequently one of the most interesting of the 

 day. For, when farmers take to steeplechase 

 riding they generally ride well, and know a lot 

 about it; and it is quite on the cards that the 

 winner of the farmers' steeplechase may be seen 

 to advantage " under the rules " on some future 

 occasion. 



The racing is over with the farmers' race; 

 the cups, if there are cups, are handed over to 

 the respective winners; the ladies are given 

 a cup of tea; the men drink to the next 

 season in something stronger, and another 



*74 



