THE CAREER OF ORMONDE 257 



few boxes between them. Saraband, owned by 

 Mr. (afterwards Sir) Blundell Maple, was kept 

 under the closest surveillance. A passage ran 

 the whole length of the stable between the outside 

 wall and the boxes, and in this, opposite Sara- 

 band's box, there was a bed on which an attendant 

 slept. Outside there were two watchmen on 

 guard. We, too, were looking well after Or- 

 monde, and had a man sleeping in the passage. 

 When I was at the stables on the Tuesday 

 evening (the day before the race) Mr. Maple, 

 who was then racing as ** Mr. Childwick," came 

 into the yard and inquired for his trainer, Robert 

 Peck. Hearing him calling, I went out, and we 

 began talking about the Two Thousand. He 

 told me he thought Saraband had a great chance 

 of winning. I casually remarked that he was 

 certainly taking great care of the horse. Then, 

 in a chaffing sort of way, I added: ** You take 

 care of him to-night, and Ormonde will look 

 after him to-morrow." He laughed and went 

 away, for I had told him Peck had gone to dine 

 with some friends. 



Mr. Maple had engaged Archer to ride 

 Saraband both in the Guineas and the Derby, 

 and paid the jockey a big sum down for the 

 " claim.'* As it happened. Saraband did not 

 run in the Derby, and so Archer was able to 

 ride Ormonde at Epsom; but at Newmarket I 

 had to put George Barrett on the son of Bend Or. 



