Captain Townley 



Again, however, he was doomed to disappointment, Jerry 

 breaking down under him in a gallop just before the race. 



He had previously ridden Jerry in a match for 200 

 sovereigns a side. Ditch-in, at the Newmarket Houghton 

 meeting of 1864, against "Fog" Rowlands on St. Stephen, 

 and won so easily that he had time to shout to judge Clark as 

 he galloped by his box, that he might expect Mr. Rowlands 

 in the course of the evening. 



This same Jerry was a most remarkable horse. Bred by 

 Palmer, the notorious poisoner, how nobody seems to have 

 known, he came into the hands of one of Mr. Chadwick's 

 Staffordshire tenants, named Miles, formerly a postilion in 

 the Royal service, who, after riding him with more or less 

 success in sundry local chases, eventually sold him to the 

 gentleman just named, who at once sent him to Newmarket to 

 join his other horses under the care of Chris Green. 



According to all accounts Jerry was anything but a beauty 

 to look at, possessing the straightest of shoulders, and a very 

 badly set on head and neck. Nevertheless, when tried behind 

 the Ditch, shortly after his arrival, with several others, to the 

 utter astonishment of both owner and trainer, he cleared out 

 the lot with ease. Amongst the jockeys who rode in the spin 

 were " Tiny " Wells and Tom French, and so highly impressed 

 was the former with the result, that he rode up to Mr. Chad- 

 wick forthwith, and requested him in his most grandiloquent 

 manner, instead of paying him the fee customary on such 

 occasions, to put the money on Jerry the first time he ran. 



After this Jerry, ridden by either Captain Townley or 

 young Ben Land, disported himself in steeplechases all over 

 the country, and over every description of course. Long or 

 short it did not matter to Jerry, and weight was no object 

 whatever. 



81 G 



