Mr. J. M. Richardson's Writings Collated 



(to myself) the late Captain Machell gave me the mount on 



Magnum Bonum in the race won by The Lamb for the second 



time, it required a horse that could jump without tiring himself, 



and really stay, rather more than is necessary at the present 



time, for this reason — that, not only was the distance longer 



(they did not take a short cut from the canal turn the last time 



round, as now), but there was always a certain amount of 



plough, and the take-off at the fences was nothing like so level 



and sound as is the case nowadays, the track having been laid 



down with grass and properly levelled. Every horseman of 



experience must be aware what a difference it makes to the 



ease with which the horse jumps if the " take-off" is firm, 



level, and sound ground. At the period I mention there was 



no attempt to protect the course from the public, who just 



walked about where they liked. The first three fences were 



lined with men and women, who never attempted to get out 



of the way until the horses were within thirty or forty yards 



of the fence ; and this state of things frequently led to horses 



refusing and tumbling at the first fence. 



The second fence from the start in those days was a natural 

 bank, fairly high, that portion of it on the right-hand side 

 being much lower than the other, and this, although it was not 

 the nearest line to take, the majority of the jockeys were very 

 fond of making for, with frequently fatal results to themselves, 

 as there being not much room, a good deal of jostling neces- 

 sarily took place, with its attendant falls. Having myself 

 always been of opinion that the nearest way was the best, I 

 invariably made a point of jumping where the bank was 

 highest, thereby avoiding any interference from a crowd of 

 horses. That I was wise in my generation is, I think, proved 

 from the fact that, out of the eight races ridden by me at 

 various times over the steeplechase course at Aintree, I won 



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