PERO GOMEZ 133 



ran Ryshworth to a neck. Taking a line through 

 Xij Abstinence, and Ryshworth, Sir Joseph came 

 to the conclusion that Belladrum was by no 

 means certain to beat Morna in the ** Cham- 

 pagne." And he was right, for after a terrific 

 struggle, our filly defeated Belladrum a head. 

 There were some long faces seen that afternoon. 

 Belladrum, it may be mentioned in passing, 

 was already favourite for the following year's 

 Derby. 



Morna ran in four more races that season, 

 picked up a ;^ioo Plate at Newmarket, and won 

 a Match against Mr. Chaplin's Acaster. The 

 following year she was very unlucky, for she ran 

 second to Scottish Queen in the One Thousand 

 Guineas, second to Brigantine in the Oaks 

 (starting favourite for both races), and second to 

 Thorwaldsen in the Gold Vase at Ascot. The 

 Oaks that year was associated with one of the 

 most violent thunderstorms I ever saw. We 

 drove from Ashstead to the course in a cab. My 

 brother-in-law was with the driver on the box ; 

 inside with me were my wife and sister. One 

 flash of lightning seemed to strike the umbrella 

 my brother-in-law was holding. Another moment 

 we thought something had exploded inside the 

 cab. The noise made by the thunder was 

 appalling, and we were all nearly scared to 

 death. I believe some people were killed on 

 the Downs. 



