It is obvious, therefore, that there were many people who had the strongest interest in preventing Silver Blaze from being there at the fall of the flag next Tuesday.
"The fact was, of course, appreciated at King's Pyland, where the Colonel's training-stable is situated.
Every precaution was taken to guard the favorite.
The trainer, John Straker, is a retired jockey who rode in Colonel Ross's colors before he became too heavy for the weighing-chair.
He has served the Colonel for five years as jockey and for seven as trainer, and has always shown himself to be a zealous and honest servant.
Under him were three lads; for the establishment was a small one, containing only four horses in all.
One of these lads sat up each night in the stable, while the others slept in the loft.
All three bore excellent characters.
John Straker, who is a married man, lived in a small villa about two hundred yards from the stables.
He has no children, keeps one maid-servant, and is comfortably off.