12 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



all mixed up in a heap of human beings. We 

 didn't part company nevertheless. The animal 

 was nearly mad with excitement, and breasted 

 the spiked railings round the ring, got his jaw on 

 the spikes, and stuck there. 



I threw myself off and gave him a chance to get 

 higher and free himself, after which I was able to 

 mount again. When we got to the ropes a police- 

 man had cut them, and his head being loosed 

 straight we got away to the post, he behaving 

 badly while there, and getting stuck in a bog close 

 to the side of the course. However, we got fairly 

 well away and won again. The Press comments 

 the next day were that Acrobat was trying to 

 get into the bookies' ring, to inquire his price ! 



His next race was for the Birmingham Cup, 

 which he also won at the next meeting at Sutton 

 Coldfield. Knowing that the jockeys were going 

 to make false starts to get my horse beaten before 

 his race, if possible, I spoke to Major Dixon, who 

 was the starter. 



" Major," I said, " Fm afraid you are going to 

 have a bit of trouble with Acrobat again, so 



Acrobat please look out. I shall be down first 



reformed ^^ ^j^g p^g^ q^ ^j^g inside, and my man 



shall hold him and I stand by. When you see the 

 jockeys in a line don't wait for me ; I will jump on 

 him as my man looses him." 



