'' Plenipol' " Colonist^' and ''King George'' 201 



turned into the straight there were but two in front of me, 

 and gradually I passed one, and then got up to the quarters 

 of the other. This horse was ridden by a jockey who held 

 theories of his own as to the way races should be ridden, 

 and one of them was, that it was not possible to get more 

 out of a horse by what is called " riding " him, than by 

 sitting perfectly still. He very seldom won a race — never 

 unless he had much the best of it — but he was so plausible, 

 and had such an elegant seat, that owners still continued 

 to put him up. He was now riding a horse also formerly 

 trained by me, who possessed a great dash of speed, and if 

 he had only just asked him for one effort he must have 

 won easily. As it was, by great exertion we worked away 

 at last to his head, and as there was yet time to spare, I 

 dropped my hands for a few strides and collected my horse 

 for the final effort. Glancing at my companion, I thought 

 to myself, " Are you nemr going to try to win a race ? 

 Surely if ever you are, this is the time to begin." But no ; 

 he sat placidly there, and then with one more struggle we 

 won by half a length. The trainer rushed up, beaming 

 with excitement, and exclaimed, " Well done, sir, well done, 

 you rode that right well ; " but the owner came up, though 

 pleased to win, and wanted to know, " What on earth I 

 had kept so far behind for, and then had to flog the horse 

 to get up again ? Why could not I keep up like the 

 others?" Indeed, I should have been only too glad to have 

 done so, if I could ; and that was all the thanks I got. 

 Truly the ways of owners are very curious. 



It may not be generally known that it is far harder 

 work to ride a race of that sort, especially if you happen 

 to be on a " slug," who will only do what he is made to 

 do, than to ride a hard pulling horse, however hard he may 



