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== Recollections of a Victorian Police Officer by Sup John Sadleir ==

The leader in district racing was the late William Pearson, of Kilmany. His notion as regards steeple- chasing was to have one or more fences so high that no ordinary jumper could face them. His horse Archy could jump almost anything; but to make things sure the laird of Kilmany secured a horse he called Baron, bought, it was said, out of a water-cart at Geelong . Baron had ring-bone, and could move freely only on the turf, but he could jump anything. The other racing people at Sale at last got tired of seeing their principal event won by a cart-horse, and insisted on the fences being lowered. My people in Ireland joined in all local racing, but I never knew any of them to indulge in betting, and I had hitherto observed the same rule. But the Evil One is ever at one’s elbow, and in an unguarded moment I fell from my high resolve. It was in this way. Two horses, half brothers, by Warhawk, had already run a dead heat, one of them belonging to Kilmany. They were running neck and neck in the deciding heat and had covered only about half the journey, when Kilmany sang out ‘Fifty to ten’ on his colt, and I snapped up the offer. I turned away ashamed of myself of having fallen from my integrity. My horse won, and after the race I saw Kilmany searching for the man who took the bet, for the old sportsman liked to settle such matters right off; buy I lay low and did not claim it. Long years after, in the Commotion days, I spoke to Pearson of this affair, which he remembered perfectly, and instead of admiring my principles pronounced me an adjective fool.

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