RIDING THE RACE. 



325 



aphorism which applies to steeple-chasing as to so many other 

 things. The rider whose victory on the heavy weight has just 

 been described was lately on a horse which came down on 

 its nose and knees at a fence. A firm seat and ready hands 

 just, and only just, saved the fall ; but the result was the loss 

 of a good dozen lengths, and that, moreover, at a critical time. 

 But the rider was in no way flurried, and so saved the horse 

 from flurry. The field was on the journey home, some half 

 mile perhaps from the winning-post, a period when there is no 



v V*"** 1 



Fighting for his head. 



time to lose. This admirable horseman, however, did not think 

 it loss of time thoroughly to pull his horse together and set off 

 quite quietly in pursuit, knowledge of pace showing him that it 

 was just possible to get up before the judge's box was reached. 

 Knowledge of pace was shown with remarkable effect 

 some short time ago in a hurdle-race in which a famous 

 cross-country rider from Newmarket took part. The course 

 was only two miles, not long enough to take liberties, and 

 before a mile had been traversed he was nearly four hundred 

 yards behind the leader. 



