she won the tenth renewal of our great classic.'

"He tells this to everybody that comes past the stalls, 'n' it ain't
long till he begins to bring people around to look the mare over. From
that he gets to watchin' how the swipes take care of her. Pretty soon
he begins to call 'em if things ain't done to suit him.

"'Boy,' he'll say, 'that bandage is tighter than I like to see it.
Always allow the tendon a little play--do not impaieh the suhculation.'

"The boys eat this stuff up--it tickles 'em. They treat him respectful
'n' do what he tells 'em.

"'Everything O. K. to-day, sir?' they'll say.

"Ole man Sanford don't tumble they're kiddin' him.

"'Ah have nothing to complain of,' he says.

"It ain't long till he's overseein' my whole string of hosses, just
like he owns 'em. Man, he sure does enjoy hisself! He won't trade
places with August Belmont.

"I'm gettin' Trampfast ready fur a nice little killin'. He's finished
away back in two starts, but he runs both races without a pill. This
hoss is a dope. He's been on it fur two seasons. He won't beat
nothin' without his hop. But when he gets just the right mixture under
his hide he figgers he can beat any kind of a hoss, 'n' he's about
right at that. He furgets all about his weak heart with the nutty
stuff in him. He thinks he's a ragin' lion. He can't wait to go out
there 'n' eat up them kittens that's goin' to start against him.

"One mawnin' my boy Pete takes the Trampfast hoss out fur a trial.

"'If he'll go six furlongs in about fourteen,' I says to Pete, 'he's
right. If he tries to loaf on you, shake him up; but if he's doin' his
work nice, let him suit hisself 'n' keep the bat off him. I want to
see what he'll do on his own.'

"'I think he'll perform to-day,' says Pete. 'He's felt real good to me
fur the last week.'

"Ole man Sanford's standin' there listenin'. When the work-out starts
he ketches the time with a big gold stop-clock that he fishes out of
his shiny ole vest. The clock's old, too--it winds with a key--but at
that she's a peach!

"'That's a fine clock,' I says to him. He don't take his eyes off the
hoss comin' round the bend.

"'He's running with freedom and well within himself,' he says. 'That
quatah was in twenty-foh flat! Yes, suh, this watch was presented to
me by membahs of the Breedah's Association to commemorate the victory
of Sweet Alice in the tenth renewal of our classic. You have heard me
speak of Sweet