How Races were Won and Lost 187 



half, all out, after a very severely fought finish. Very 

 blue were our looks when we met afterwards, and very 

 much ashamed of himself was the jockey, who, it is scarcely 

 needless to say, was promptly told he need never look for 

 another mount from our stable. It seems that, with the 

 vanity of a youth, he thought if he could steal a start he 

 might just beat " II Barbiere," and never regarded his 

 orders or our wishes in the least. As to stealing a start 

 from Everett, he had not 100 to 1 chance to do so, for he 

 was a first-rate jockey and never to be caught napping. 

 Our hopes of a cowp were gone, for now at last the 

 horse's form was thoroughly exposed, and it was evident to 

 everyone that the colt was only about 10 lb. behind his 

 rival. What was to be done ? The horse was no worse 

 for his race, and getting fitter every day, but November 

 had already begun and the racing season was almost over. 

 I suggested that our only chance was to put him into the 

 Consolation Handicap, on the last day of the meeting, and 

 get him beaten there, and trust to luck to pull a race off 

 at Jerez, the last meeting of the year. 



We accordingly entered him for the race, and Mr. 

 Davies' " Barbian," a smart four-year-old, was also entered ; 

 the handicapper allotting the weights — " Barbian," four 

 years, 10 st. 2 lb. ; " Solitario," three years, 10 st. 3 lb. 

 Nothing else cared to start against us, and we were the 

 only two that weighed out. Going to Heredia before we 

 started, I said to him, " Now look here, if possible, we must 

 not win this race ; it is not worth winning, and if we do 

 we shall never have another chance." " Can you win," he 

 asked ; " if so, do win it." He dearly loved seeing his 

 colours in front, even for a very insignificant prize. 

 " Well," I said, " it is just this. If I ride him one way we 



