CHAPTER III 



AVE I ever been " invited to explain, etc '* ? 

 Why, yes ! On three occasions ! Each 

 time I emerged triumphant and left the 

 *' Court of Enquiry " without a stain on 

 my character. This, be it said, in connection with 

 " the ponies " only. Perhaps I may be permitted 

 to add that, as regards racing under Jockey Club and 

 National Hunt Rules, never once was a complaint 

 made against me ; nor was any winner I rode ever 

 objected to. As a member of Hurlingham and 

 Ranelagh, when riding ponies at these fashionable 

 clubs, it was taken for granted that I was far above 

 any sort of suspicion ; but in " the provinces '* it was 

 different. Undoubtedly a lot of questionable, not 

 to say crooked, tricks were resorted to by those who 

 considered themselves hyper-smart, and who, glorying 

 in their misdeeds, thought that all others, including 

 myself, were tarred with the same brush. It was, 

 in fact, as a general rule, a case of each for himself 

 and the devil take the hindermost. The three follow- 

 ing examples will show with what unworthy suspicion 

 the straightest of sportsmen and gentlemen are often 



regarded by those who have no claim to either title, 



28 



