The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-02-02

saying | did not like being forestalled,
and SO ON. ] must say that | YVES much
surprised, when | told Natty about it.
to hear that he had backed the mare.
too, at the same odds.
II don't often bet. he said. but ]
couldn't resist the Price, so | put on my
modest tenner. and | advise you to do
the same"
But this | absolutely refused to do.
I had determined. when l began to run
the mare, that | would never back her,
and to that prudent resolution | would
adhere.
You think she will win them" |
inquired ~incredulously.
II don't say that. The Cesarewitch
takes a lot of running, but there is
nothing in my opinion better in, and
she will stay the course, which is more
than half of them will if the pace is
anything like SO good as it usually is.
Don't be alarmed about your friends.
They can't have put much on the mare
or she'd have gone to a shorter price"
But this did not happen, and | am
not aware of any one else having backed
her.
AS may be imagined. l took more liz
terest in this race than in any of the
others and applied for a few days leave
to go and see it run. 1t was very sell
dom that | went to races. Not that (
had any objection to horse racing--I
think it the finest of all sports, and that
it might be SO conducted as to form d
wholesome national amusement-but,
as things are at present, one has to wade
through such a sea of rascality before
he can so much as catch a glimpse of a
race horses tail that l nave never con-
sidered the game at all worth the cam
die.
AS the time drew near | paid some
attention to the sporting intelligence
and selections" for various events in
the papers. With one exception-The
Licensed Victualler's Gazette the
chances of my representative were en-
tirely ignored. while the candid opin-
ion of that organ was that Skittles, how
ever lightly weighted, would find her
self outclassed in such company. This
was the reverse of encouraging, especi-
ally as it conceded with my w pri-
vate conviction. What surprised me
was the wonderful unanimity of these
tipsters. They al pinned their faith
on a horse named Alcester, while a few
thought Corkjacket might have a
chance, but all mentioned Alcester save
The Field, which pumped for Phara-
mond, the winner of the Derby for the
preceding year, and generally consid-
cred to be the best horse in training at
that time. Alc"ster was reported to
have been tried so that he could not
lose" Natty told me afterward he
generally liked to have a bet against a
horse that YVES tried so highly as that,
though occasionally, he admitted, the
| good thing did come off.
l met Natty in town, and after din
ing together and laughing over the
comic opera at tho Savoy we ran down
to Newmarket in good time next day.
The mare was there and filter. Nat de-
clared, than he had ever seen her be
fore. Pedometer had accompanied her,
but was not engaged in the same race,
az miles being considered out of his
distance. But he can't lead her now
at no distance" Pearce said. They
had a nice gallop this morning, and the
mare pulled over him all the way"
AS the hour for the race drew on l
became quite nervous. 1t was cold and
dull on the Heath. and l shivered with
excitement inside my ulster. We saw
the race from the grand stand and had
a capital view of the horses as they can
tered past. 1t was a large field, 23
some OF the most famous animals on
the turf. There were besides the much
Wanted Alcester the magnificent Phar-
amond, supposed by the cognoscenti to
be out OF the race in consequence of the
weight he had to carry-nine stone;
Gelasma, a beautiful chestnut mare,
who had won the Oaks two years be-
fore; another handsome FLY, Bridal
Beauty, carrying the gorgeous violet
and crimson of a certain duchess; Cork
jacket, who had beaten Skittles so hand
somely in the City and Suburban, but
now had to give her more than a stone,
and a host of other celebrities and ION
entities, among the latter my own
mare in the dark blue and gold belt.
Though less good looking than some she
went by in beautiful style, with light,
corky action and a quickness of stride
that attracted some attention, for a pale
and effeminate yet aristocratic looking
youth below me exclaimed :"Gad, that's
a fine mover! What is it?" and he con-
suited his race card to see. After which
he whispered a word to a man beside
him, who responded. Thirty to one, my
lord, and left the stand at a nod from
the other.
l cannot describe the race, for I saw
so little of it. though l discerned once
with my ace glass when the horses
were at a great distance from US that
Skittles was lying we'll up, with the
black and red tartan of Pharamond
close behind her, and then l had to wait
for the finish.
After what seemed an interminable
timo h,1f xuos roo11v op1r a fauv WIN