Gentlemen Riders 



Never, indeed, was a greater truism than that uttered by a 

 disappointed sportsman who had tried in vain to catch him 

 in a run, that until you got alongside of Teddy Drake, you 

 never knew how fast he was going. 



The following conversation will show in what estimation 

 his horsemanship was held. The Hon. Robert Grimston and 

 Fred Cox, Baron Rothschild's huntsman, jogging home together 

 at the end of the day's hunting, were holding an animated 

 discussion as to which was the finest horseman over a country 

 they had either of them ever seen. They were at last reduced 

 to two, viz. the Rev. Edward Drake and Jim Mason. 



"I know who you'll say now," said Bob Grimston, "Jim 

 Mason, of course ! " 



" You're wrong sir," was the reply. " I prefer Mr. Drake 

 for this reason : that whilst Jim Mason is only at home on 

 a perfectly made hunter, Mr. Drake goes equally well in a 

 run on any description of horse you choose to put him on." 



And Mr. Grimston was obliged to admit that the other 

 had the better of the argument. 



His brother, the still living Mr. George Drake, popularly 

 known as ** The Admiral," ^vas also a first-rate horseman 

 over a country. Though he rode with more or less success 

 in a great many steeplechases under National Hunt Rules 

 at Aylesbury and elsewhere, he only appeared once in a 

 Grand National field, viz. in 1865 when Alcibiade won, on 

 which occasion he rode Tumbler, belonging to Captain John 

 White, so well known as a hard rider across Leicestershire 

 in former days ; but without success, his horse refusing the 

 very first fence. 



It is good to know that at the present time its reputation 

 for fine horsemanship so long associated with the house of 

 Drake is in such capable hands as those of Mr. " Jack " 



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