*Xort) Clif Neil's' Xlrial 35 



gentlemen who trained in Alec Taylor's stable. He 

 had a very peculiar seat, as he used to ride very 

 short indeed, but was strong, and had a good head 

 on his shoulders. 



One of the best two-year-olds I have ever seen 

 tried was ' Lord Clifden.' When we went to try 

 him at Stanton the Saturday after Chester Races in 

 1 86 1, he was galloped with 'Spicebox,' * Egyptian,' 

 and ' Lady Strafford,' another youngster. ' Spice- 

 box ' and ' Egyptian ' had won two races each at 

 Chester, so it showed they w^ere in form, and the 

 ' young un ' was asked to beat them at even 

 weights. This he did very easily. I rode ' Lady 

 Strafford,' and was last in the gallop. Well do I re- 

 member Fordham taking ' Lord Clifden ' very wide 

 round the bottom turn, and letting Walter White, 

 who was riding ' Spicebox,' get two or three lengths 

 of him in the straight ; but when George asked ' Lord 

 Clifden ' to go, he did so, and won in a canter by 

 three lengths. ' Egyptian ' was third. 



When the trial was over, I said to Fordham : 



"George, you went very wide round that last 

 turn." 



He turned round directly and said : 



" Do you think I was riding that horse to win his 

 trial r 



