Schooling on the Tan. 257 



he was "a shepherd." "Are you, indeed ?" rejoined his 

 lordship ; " I don't think you look after your flock much." 

 But a truce to these Scottiana. As ten o'clock 

 approaches the schooling on the tan begins in earnest. 

 Shepherd's, Peck's, and a couple of I'Anson's come 

 striding along by twos and threes, and then Perren 

 takes the Whitewall lot into the bottom. The Spy, 

 with his plainish head and long legs, is not out, and 

 Viscount is also taking it easy at home. Goldsboro' 

 is reported coughing ; and Westwick, that good-look- 

 ing half-brother to West Australian, has never run 

 since the Alexandra Plate of last year. Nobleman 

 goes merrily through his work, and Toison d'Or toils 

 away with a fair chance of Park Hill honours before 

 her eyes. Old War, the King of the Slows, seems 

 very much fined down, and in great heart, as if he 

 knew that the wet which he loves so well has de- 

 scended on the three Ridings in earnest at last. Five or 

 six more, Silver Band, Tarna, Viscountess, &c. flash past 

 in succession, and Mr. Scott calls out of his brougham 

 to a lad to " keep your hands down." Then the 

 straight-backed Taraban is seen creeping up the hill 

 with his head well down, and H. Robertson in the 

 saddle. The pretty little Royal Oak, a lighter chest- 

 nut with a white face and white on the off fore foot, 

 comes " fighting," hard held by Grimshaw, and look- 

 ing as if he were ready at any moment to go up and 

 settle him. There was a time when Taraban was 

 obliged to " liquor up " before every great race. 

 Whisky did not stay long with him, and he infinitely 

 preferred old port of a good vintage, but he is said 

 now to be quite a reformed character, and no horse 

 can play the schoolmaster more patiently. The funny 

 man of the piece is a Malton publican on a roan racing 

 pony. She has been winning at Margate in the early 

 part of the week, but she is back again at her old 

 quarters, looking as hard as nails. Still her owner is 

 anxious to put on a little more "polish," and he rattles 



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