'Sterlino's' Cambn&c3esF3ire 159 



on well until they came to Newmarket. Fordham, 

 who had not been in good health, had not been ridino- 

 anything but very quiet horses ; all his employers 

 allowed him to pick his mounts, knowing he was not 

 in condition. One day he was asked by the trainer 

 (a man named Roughton, who was formerly head 

 lad to old Mr. T. Taylor, father of Alec) to come 

 and ride ' Sterling ' a gallop in the morning. This 

 he tried to do, but in cantering previously to his 

 mounting the old horse began rearing and kicking, 

 which poor old Fordham could not stand, so he said 

 to Rouohton : 



" I think you had better get someone else to ride 

 this horse ; I am not strong enough." 



Roughton asked: "Who am I to get .^" And 

 Fordham replied : " I will get you a jockey." 



Subsequently he sent round for me to go and see 

 him, and he told me all about it, Chris Fenning 

 being in the room. He asked me if I would ride 

 * Sterling ' in the Cambridgeshire if they put me on 

 a thousand to nothing. I immediately told him I 

 would only be too glad of the chance for half the 

 price. He also informed me the horse was a bit nasty, 

 but that I should not mind it. It was an unlucky 

 day for me when I rode him in the Cambridgeshire. 

 It rained in torrents, and was dreadfully cold ; I had 



