232 TALES OF THE TURF. 



splendid looking man about fifty-five years, I should 

 judge in our way of reckoning ages, and must have been 

 one of the richest men in the country. He certainly was 

 one of the best known and one of the most prominent. 



"There were eight to start, and the grand stand was 

 packed, people hanging on to the posts, covering the roof, 

 and lining the track on the opposite side its entire length. 

 There could not have been less than thirty thousand spec- 

 tators. When I appeared behind the mare there was a 

 hush, an awful silence, then such a cheering as was never 

 heard before, and I never again want to hear the like. I 

 was nervous and scared, but tried to appear at ease. My 

 patron patted me on the back and seemed 'happy as a 

 clam at high tide.' I drew fifth place and we scored twice 

 before getting the word. My mare, being eager, would 

 come up ahead, in spite of all my efforts, and it was plain 

 then to me that I could win easily. By gestures, I told 

 the judges I would turn behind the others and the starter 

 could send us off on the next score without particular 

 reference to me. I had nearly caught them, but was a lit- 

 tle behind when the word was given. I closed the gap 

 readily, and was about to take my position when the left 

 wheel of the chariot next to me came off, letting down 

 the axle on my side to the ground and throwing the horse 

 immediately in front of the mare, breaking his neck. She 

 stepped on him and pitched forward on her nose, sliding 

 quite a distance. The sulky, running over the horse, was 

 thrown over the mare, and I went clear over her head 

 also, stunned and dizzy, but not unconscious. Jumping 

 to my feet, I caught her by the bridle, threw the sulky 

 back, the driver of the other horse assisting me, and with- 

 out waiting to see whether anything was broken, jumped 

 on the sulky and started after the flying field. I went a 



