Gentlemen Riders 



Mr. THOMAS PICKERNELL 

 (Mr. "Thomas") 



From the early part of the last century, when steeplechasing 

 first became the fashion in England, down to the present 

 time we don't believe there is a single horseman you could 

 mention, either professional or amateur, who could boast of a 

 longer career in the saddle, or whose name in after years has 

 dwelt longer in the memory of those connected with the sport 

 than the gentleman known to his friends as Tom Pickernell, 

 and to the sporting world as Mr. " Thomas." 



Born at Cheltenham, at which place he received his 

 education — that portion of it dealing with equitation, and the 

 one he most preferred, being under the supervision of those 

 learned professors, Tom Olliver and William Holman — he 

 soon afterwards, at the instance of his family, and much against 

 his own inclination, emigrated to Tasmania, with a view to 

 learning sheep farming, and it was there that he rode and won 

 his first steeplechase. 



This proved the forerunner of so many victories that at 

 last a petition extensively signed by the natives of the colony 

 was presented to him begging him to desist from riding, on 

 the plea that he was taking the bread out of the mouths of his 

 professional brethren of the Pigskin. 



Soon after this hint he said good-bye to Tasmania, and 

 returned to England, there to commence that riding career 

 which has never yet been equalled, and certainly never 

 excelled, by any amateur horseman of his or any other 

 time. 



How many races on the flat and over the country " Mr. 



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