The Life of a Great Sportsman 



was leaving the Paddock for the Grand Stand, when he ran 

 up against one of our most noted trainers, with whom he at 

 once entered into an animated conversation regarding the big 

 race, and the respective chances of the animals engaged therein. 



" Why shouldn't the mare win ? " inquired Mr. Richardson. 



"The mare!" echoed the trainer in astonishment. "What 

 mare ? I didn't even know there was one in the race." 



"Why, Signorinetta, to be sure," replied the other. " I've 

 seen every horse in the race," he added, " and looked 'em care- 

 fully over, and to my thinking she is the only really fit animal 

 in the race, and consequently extremely likely to win the 

 Derby, especially with her sex allowance." 



" Well, Mr. Richardson," said the trainer, " there's no man 

 in England whose opinion I have more respect for than yours, 

 so I'll be off and have a look at Signorinetta before it is too 

 late." 



And so saying they went their different ways ; the one to 

 inspect the Chevalier's mare ; the other to invest his usual 

 sovereign on her. Never was there a much straighter " tip " in 

 racing parlance than this, for, as is well known, it was her 

 superiority in condition and nothing else which gave the 

 Chevalier Ginistrelli's filly the Blue Ribbon of the Turf. 



The late George Ede (" Mr. Edwards ") enjoyed the repu- 

 tation of being the best gentleman rider of his day, an opinion 

 in which Mr. Richardson heartily concurred. But there are 

 many who still hold to the belief that when they were both 

 riding at the same time there was little to choose between them, 

 and that if anything the " Cat " was the superior of the two, 

 and if the writer's opinion is worth anything, it is that the latter 

 were right. 



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