_BLACK BOY'S OWNER_
Whatever Abe Moss's opinion of Barry Tuxford might be, that astute
gentleman had his own way, and purchased Black Boy for four hundred and
fifty pounds. Jack Redland was satisfied, so was Joel Kenley, who
remarked that it was quite evident Barry Tuxford was fully equal to half
a dozen men like Abe Moss.
"I'm not so sure of that," said Barry. "He's sharp enough, and I fancy
he thinks he has got a good price for the horse. He asked me if I had
any objections to letting him know when the horse was going out to win,
and I said none at all, for the first time he started he would do his
best."
"And what did Moss say?" asked the trainer.
"He smiled and looked cunning, as much as to say--
"'You need not tell that fairy tale to me, you are not the man to run a
horse out when the money is not on.'"
"I think that is probably correct," laughed Joel; then seeing Barry's
countenance change, he added quickly--
"I mean what Moss thought, not that his opinion was correct."
Black Boy was handed over to Barry Tuxford, and consigned to the care of
Bricky Smiles, at Kenley's stables. Bricky commenced to feel important
again, he had two horses to look after, and this was a move in the right
direction.
Joel Kenley was amused at him, and satisfied with his work in every way,
in fact he acknowledged to Jack that a better man could not have been
found for the job.
"It has given him a new lease of life," said the trainer, "and he'll be
quite a different man in a few weeks."
Joel Kenley was not long in ascertaining whether his surmise as to Black
Boy having been "bottled up" was correct. He tried him well, and was
surprised at the result. He kept his knowledge to himself until he had
given the horse a "dust up" with Lucky Boy. Again the result was a
surprise, for the Western horse won rather easily at level weights.
Joel was a trifle puzzled. He had discovered that Black Boy would
probably be weighted at a stone below his proper form in the next big
handicap, and he was quite sure Lucky Boy would be leniently treated, as
handicappers usually, and sometimes foolishly, regarded these
"outsiders" with a contempt that was not deserved.
The trainer chuckled quietly to himself as he contemplated the bringing
off of one or two good coups. He dearly loved the excitement attending
such proceedings, and although he would have scorned to order a horse to
be "pulled," he had no objections to benefit by the hoodwinking of a
handicapper.
Somehow Joel regarded handicappers as his natural enemies, and had
frequently fallen foul of them, and asked for an explanation of the
weights placed upon his horses. On several instances it was acknowledged
that he had good grounds for his grievance, and this did not improve the
temper of the handicappers.
Although his horses ran in and out, as most horses will, there was no
suspicion against him, and his reputation for honesty stood high. It was
different with Abe Moss, who was regarded as a very smart customer
indeed, and when it became known that a new patron of Joel's stable had
purchased Black Boy there was a general winking of eyes, and nodding of
heads, amongst the "knowing ones."
The opinion of these would-be clever men was that Abe Moss would not
have parted with Black Boy had the horse been any good. They were a
little disappointed, because they had been carefully watching Black
Boy's running, and had come to the conclusion some of his performances
were "very hot" indeed, and they meant to reap the benefit of their
observations when "the money was on." Their time had been wasted, their
opinions must have been utterly wrong, for had Abe Moss been "keeping"
Black Boy for a particular race he would not have sold him.
In this they were wrong. Abe Moss was by no means inclined to play shady
games for the benefit of others. He had of late received several hints
that if Black Boy suddenly showed greatly improved form he might be
called upon to have an unpleasant interview with the stewards of the
Jockey Club. Abe had a pious horror of stewards, he considered them
superfluities, and said they were appointed to prevent honest men
earning a decent living. As racing meant income to Abe Moss, he had no
desire to be "warned off," and this was probably what would happen if
Black Boy suddenly developed into a good handicap horse.
When Barry Tuxford came along with the avowed intention of purchasing a
couple of horses, Abe Moss fancied he saw a way out of the difficulty.
He argued that if he sold Black Boy to a new comer, and the horse won a
big race he, knowing the true form, could back him, and yet not be
called upon to explain. This was the reason he parted with Black Boy,
and asked to be given the information as to when the horse "was going."
It was a surprise to Abe when he knew Black Boy had gone into Joel
Kenley's stable. He had a great respect for Joel as a trainer, none for
him as a man. He knew it would not take him long to find out that Black
Boy was a great deal better horse than his form made out. Judging others
by himself, he came to the conclusion that when Joel made this discovery
he would keep it dark and profit by it, in which case he, Abe Moss,
stood a very good chance of being left "out in the cold" when Black Boy
won. He was half inclined to give a hint to Barry Tuxford as to the true
state of affairs, but he did not know him sufficiently well, and it was
not safe to run risks.
Joel Kenley had some inkling as to the truth of all this when he tried
Black Boy. He surmised that Abe Moss had sold the horse, with a full
knowledge of what he was capable of, in order to avoid serious
consequences when he won. He told Barry Tuxford and Jack everything, and
also what he suspected was Abe's object in selling.
"Then we have two much better horses than we expected," said Barry,
"that is satisfactory, at any rate. I hope Lucky Boy will turn out the
best."