240 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



I was at sea nothing would have induced me to scratch the 

 horse. 



At any ratCj you shall not suffer in the matter. 



Unless you hear from me to the contrary, I shall 

 come down on Friday by the early train, if that arrives 

 in time for me to see the horses at work. I am afraid 

 I did not show my full appreciation of the full-dress 

 rehearsal you kindly gave me yesterday, but I was so 

 much upset about this " scratching affair " that I could 

 think of little else. — Yours truly, 



W. Brodrick Cloete. 



In a bundle of papers I have come across the 

 following statement in my own handwriting. 

 Apparently it was prepared with a view to 

 publication in the sporting papers, but I cannot 

 now say whether or not I sent it to those journals. 

 It is dated October lo, 1885, so was written 

 when all the circumstances were fresh in my 

 mind, and reads : 



As the trainer of Paradox I should feel obliged by your 

 placing the following facts before the public relative to 

 his scratching for the Cambridgeshire. 



Before leaving England, Mr. Brodrick Cloete came to 

 Kingsclere to see his horses and to make arrangements 

 concerning them during his absence. At that time 

 Paradox was entered for the Cesarewitch and the Cam- 

 bridgeshire, but the weights had not appeared. 



It was suggested at that interview that whatever weight 

 the horse received for the Cesarewitch he should not run 

 in that race, as he had a valuable engagement (the 

 Champion Stakes) to be run for over a distance of one 



