CHAPTER XXV 



CODOMAN 



Changing Codoman's Plates — Santoi as Trial Horse — Long Delay at Post 



In the middle of the week, about the 30th of September 

 or 1st October, I received from Paris a telegram from 

 M. Maurice Ephrussi asking me whether I would ride 

 Codoman in the Prix du Conseil Municipal, and, if 

 I would, how much I should want. A reply was im- 

 mediately sent saying, " Yes, and two hundred pounds 

 as the fee to cover everything." Then promptly came 

 another wire instructing me to be there on Sunday 

 morning. I knew nothing about the horse and the few 

 I asked could not throw any light on his chance except 

 that he had run well in the spring, but had been un- 

 placed in the French Derby and another important 

 race. 



I can't say I was extra keen about making the trip, 

 but at all events it was a big race and the prospect of 

 winning it gave a little excitement to the journey. 

 After a short rest at my hotel I went to M. Ephrussi's 

 house for luncheon where I was to receive more in- 

 formation. I had taken over with me a set of light 

 American plates, but the difficulty began when I tried 

 to persuade M. Ephrussi to use them. He said that 

 his trainer, old Mr Carter, would be against it, and that 

 he would have to consider him in the matter, and also 

 that he thought it would be perhaps better to let the 

 horse run in the shoes he was used to. But keeping at 

 him I saw that he was coming round to the arguments 



i8o 



