THE RACING PRESS 



do for himself or others. I knew him for a quarter 

 of a century. 



Who hasn't known Jack Cobbett, his brother — we 

 never knew exactly which was the elder. " Jack " 

 has retired from the Sporting Life at the time I write, 

 but his memory in the press-room will be ever green. 

 His little quips, snatches of song, outbursts of quota- 

 tions, his hard-luck stories, and especially his railings 

 against the ruhngs of providence as affecting him will 

 remain — with embellishments — the special souvenirs 

 of the raconteur. At nearly sixty. Jack Cobbett was 

 as upright in figure as a lad of twenty, and could walk 

 his juniors off their feet, in this respect resembling 

 his brother. This was not the only resemblance, as 

 those who read the Life up to, say, 1911 knew. The 

 notes on the appearance of the country, the picturesque- 

 ness of detail as to nature's new mantles, animal life, 

 the roadside, and everything which would have 

 pleased even a student of " Lorna Doone " found their 

 way into racing introductions ! 



Sydenham Dixon has been one of the best known of 

 sporting writers, although at the time I write he is not 

 in such prominence. The son of that world-renowned 

 authority "The Druid," Sydenham Dixon, was on the 

 stage for some years, at one time being a member of 

 the Kendals' company, then he drifted back to the 

 absorbing occupation of race writing. For many 

 years he was " Vigilant " of the Sportsman. He wrote 

 a series of very interesting articles, at my suggestion, 

 in my magazine the Sport Set on the turf careers of 

 well-known great horses who were then at the stud. 

 I considered it would be an education to those who 

 had only been racing a few years, and so it proved. 

 Dixon was very pleased himself with the task, although 

 it meant research and interviewing. Perhaps some day 



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