CHAPTER XVII. 



Training Difficulties — Spanish Justice — 

 The Bull Ring. 



When at exercise one morning in the spring at Jerez 

 de la Frontera — the Newmarket of Spain — I noiiced a 

 chestnut colt that seemed to gallop with great freedom. 

 I inquired to whom he belonged, and finding it was an 

 acquaintance, I went after breakfast to call upon him, and 

 to find out if the horse was for sale. His owner did not 

 wish to sell him, as he greatly admired the colt, but he 

 was very pleased to show him to me, and I gladly con- 

 gratulated him on the possession of such a beautiful three- 

 year-old. " Handsome is as handsome does," however, and 

 when he came to start for his first race he bolted at the 

 first turn, threw his jockey, an English professional, and 

 was not caught for a long time. The next day Alfred 

 Wood rode him, as the other jockey declined the task ; 

 and though the colt could not get rid of Wood, he bolted 

 again at the first turn, and took no further part in the 

 race. Thinking that time and care would cure him, as he 

 was so young a horse, I again sought his owner with a 

 view of buying him, but Mr. Garvey said that he still 

 wished to keep him, though he should not race him again, 

 and proposed to use him as a sire, for the sake of his 

 breeding. I then offered to take the colt and train him, to 

 which he gladly assented, and it was settled that he should 



