CHASING AND RACING 223 



race, his effort to stall off the more powerful Madden 

 did him infinite credit. 



Incidentally I may mention that I was one of the 

 first to recognize Madden's merits, when as a stable lad 

 his mounts were few and far between. I think I must 

 have had some faculty for scenting out likely but in- 

 conspicuous lads, who frequently became " fashion- 

 able " jockeys, such as (in addition to Otto Madden) 

 Walter Bradford and T. J. Calder, some of whose 

 earliest rides were when garbed in my green. In fact 

 Bradford made his debut therein. 



It was in the Northamptonshire Stakes, in which I 

 was running Armada. I had expected his usual jockey, 

 Allsopp, to be available, but at the last moment he was 

 engaged for Silver Ring (I think that was the filly's 

 name) by " Leo " Rothschild, who had first claim on 

 his services. I was in a fix, when Fred Webb offered 

 to help me out of the dilemma by producing a midget 

 apprentice, who looked as if you could put the whole of 

 him, with the exception of his knowledge box, into a 

 pint pot ! I had my doubts, as Armada was given to 

 catching hold. However, as Webb assured me that 

 his little box-o '-tricks could thrash any lad, no matter 

 what his weight, in his (Webb's) stable, I accepted the 

 offer faute de mieux^ but was not over- happy, because I 

 fancied my horse not a little, and had supported him 

 freely " each way." 



Then came the question of breeches, boots, and 

 colours. Allsopp had not brought his set, but Prince 



