How Races were Won and Lost 191 



my reply ; " and the result showed that we were right. 

 If the Seville race had been a true run one, ' Solitario ' 

 would have won easily ; but by making it only a race for 

 speed from the ' distance,' ' Barbian,' who is very speedy, 

 but does not stay well, was able just to beat him. 

 ' Solitario ' stays, but has not the highest speed. We 

 wanted the handicapper to put the same weight on him as 

 ' Barbian ' at Jerez, and then we were sure of beating him 

 if the pace was good." 



The following spring, I was hoist with my own 

 petard. When we arrived at Cadiz for the races, the 

 trainer of Senor Eult's horses came to me while we 

 were at exercise on the first morning, and asked me if I 

 could ride a four-year-old for him in the race for the Duke 

 of Montpensier's Prize. He stated that each morning, 

 after they had arrived there, the horse had bolted at 

 exercise directly they reached the path leading off the 

 course, and that, as this place would have to be passed 

 in the race, he was afraid he would endeavour to run out 

 there, and that he was not strong enough to hold him. 



Not being engaged for the race, I agreed to ride, and 

 being warned of the horse's whim there seemed every 

 probability of getting him safely past the dangerous spot. 

 I lay well up as we approached it, but took the precaution 

 to keep on the rails, with a leader just in front, and hoped 

 "Eiff" would follow him round all right. He did not do 

 so, however, and endeavoured with all his might to bolt 

 across where he was accustomed to do so. It took all my 

 strength to hold him round the turn ; and we had almost 

 got straightened for home when Everett — who was making 

 the running on " Trovador," and was watching me as 

 closely as a cat does a mouse-hole — seeing that I had got 



