TOD SLOAN 



get into the open having to cross the " Aigles " — a 

 particular gallop at Chantilly. There was nothing 

 done on this gallop at all ; in fact it was more a walk 

 out than anything. But we were seen in the distance 

 by several jockeys and trainers and it got about that we 

 had been on ground prohibited on Sunday. However 

 of that later. 



On getting back I advised Charron and the owner to 

 let her take her chance, and gave Ransch who was to 

 ride her his instructions. He was not to knock her 

 about in any way but to let her slip along if she felt 

 like it. He was by no means to force her in any way 

 at all. Further I recommended Charron, who leaned 

 on my judgment, if she seemed any worse after the 

 race, to let her have a very long ease up. We heard a 

 little bit of talk during the morning as to having been 

 on the " Aigles " ; it appeared they had recognised 

 my seat on the mare, and the "horrible" story had 

 been repeated from one to the other. 



The result of the race was that Rose de Mai won 

 easily, she had opened at 2 to 1 and gone out to 14 to 1 

 before the start. I never thought it worth having any- 

 thing on her for I didn't know then how moderate the 

 opposition was. I think Charron put on ten louis for 

 me or something in the " mutuel " but I can't recollect 

 exactly. 



After the race M. Caillault, who was second, lodged 

 an objection on the score that I was the trainer of the 

 mare. The Stewards held a big pow-bow over it but 

 didn't disqualify. However for being on the " Aigles " 

 on a Sunday and in answer, I suppose, to the objection 

 they fined Charron a thousand francs, and warned me 

 off the saddling enclosure and jockeys' room — per- 

 manently. It was indeed a body blow. I couldn't 

 afford to have even the smallest thing against me at 



2l6 



