Bredin on Running & Training

16 RUNNING AND TRAINING. the fastest men certainly points to the fact that it is a mode of progression that the sprinter need not much indulge in. I will conclude my remarks on sprinting by an account of a 120 yards handicap, got up in the old days at Lillie Bridge by a couple of needy "pros," who, having a runner on a long mark, took the ground, and advertised prizes in coin of the realm for first, second, and thi17d, trusting to reap a profit thereby from the gate receipts, and any betting there might happen to be. However, the weather proved unpropitious, rain falling in torrents, and when the final heat was decided, with scarcely any one on the ground in addition to the competitors, and the expenses of advertising, hire of ground, etc ., to be met, they slipped their man, instructing him to get home as fast as possible to save the premier prize. This he managed to do after a close race, and one of the wily promoters, who officiated as judge, thus placed the first three-" So-and-so" (their man) "first, all the rest disqualified for not trying."