CHAPTEE II 



ACROBAT AND OTHER WINNING MOUNTS 



It was during the time I was with my grandfather 

 that I bought my first race-horse, called Acrobat — 



Acrobat's ^ two-year-old — from Weever for £25. 



acrobatics jjg ^g^g absolutely a bag of bones. Mr. 

 Weever had previously taken him to Worcester 

 to try and get rid of him. After running in a 

 selling race there, he was offered £18 for him, but 

 said he could do better than that at home, which 

 he did. I " cut " him, and he quickly improved. 

 Then I put him in training. As I had no training 

 ground, I exercised and galloped principally on 

 the side of broadway roads. He got quite used to 

 this, though it was dangerous, as he had to jump 

 the grips. I soon found from the feel he gave me 

 that he could race, so I said to Mr. Weever one day, 

 " Would you mind giving me a gallop with that 

 horse I bought from you ? " and he said " Yes."* 

 He had at that time an animal winning handicaps 

 with 8st. 12 lb., and asked me if that would be 

 too good. I said " No." " Very well, old man, 



10 



