CHAPTER XXI 



DURING the time I disported myself on 

 the Turf as an amateur rider, I was natu- 

 rally brought into contact, at one time 

 or another, with all the riding knuts — 

 members of Bibury, Southdown, Sandown, Kempton, 

 Newmarket, and other important clubs ; and a nice 

 cheery set of boys they were, who played the game of 

 give and take to perfection. 



Those who were genuine contemporaries were 

 linked up with a senior bunch, units of which took 

 occasional mounts when conditions and circumstances 

 were favourable. Among the latter Arthur Coventry 

 was conspicuous. In his day, he had been looked upon 

 2iS facile princeps^ and he never lost the art of race-riding. 

 When he became official starter to the Jockey Club it 

 was not often that he donned silk ; but when the 

 Bibury Club Meeting (then held at Stockbridge) came 

 round, he was generally to be seen on the back of some 

 gee, owned and trained by his friend, the local celebrity, 

 Tom Cannon, senior. On these occasions I fre- 

 quently found myself in opposition. I tried to tackle 

 him on one of the great ex-jockey's string, with my 



non-staying and delightful, but elephantine Blankney. 



247 



