I ^o The Post and the Paddock. 



o 



previous, was never the same man again. Stevens, 

 the sporting fishmonger, was also left lamenting 

 over the 20,000/. which had suddenly faded into thin 

 air, and both the Chifneys were hard hit. Shillelah 

 was a big, leggy, brown horse, excessively speedy, 

 but not powerful, and withal very delicate and 

 difficult to train. He was made second favourite for 

 the St. Leger at starting, and it was after this memo- 

 rable Touchstone triumph, in which he assisted by 

 running eighth, that Sam bade adieu to the saddle in 

 Yorkshire. 



But we must now leave the pink-and-black stripes, 

 and have a peep at Sam in the white body and red 

 sleeves of Mr. Thornhill. His engagement to Perren's 

 stable had given him several mounts for The Squire 

 of Riddlesworth previous to 18 18, but it was not till 

 the Derby-day of that year that the two were espe- 

 cially identified in the public mind. Such was Mr. 

 Thornhill's opinion of his talent, that he had christened 

 his Derby colt of that year " Sam," in his honour. 

 This son of Scud was a low, lengthy, and plain sort of 

 horse, with a sour countenance, and a delicate consti- 

 tution ; and ten days before the race he went so much 

 amiss, that Mr. Thornhill thought seriously of hedging 

 the greater part of the 15,000/. which depended on the 

 result. Owing to the fretfulness of Prince Paul, the 

 first favourite, the horses only got off at the tenth 

 attempt, and then Chifney quietly waited till Prince 

 Paul had run himself out, disposed of Raby, and won 

 cleverly by three parts of a length. Raby, against 

 whom 50 to I was laid at starting, was in the same 

 stable, and the property of Lord Darlington, who had 

 given up his first claim on Sam Chifney for the day. 

 He had nominally come to Epsom in Perren's charge; 

 but as it was thought better that there should be a 

 divided duty, a friendly arrangement was entered into, 

 and Will Chifney had the sole management, for the 

 fortnight, of the horse, which his brother was to steer. 



