Mr. Digby Collins 



George Ede, were my cotemporaries, I went to Cambridge; 

 and, while there, my recreations were confined to rowing, 

 hunting with the Fitzwilliam, and an occasional ride with the 

 drag. But, with the exception of a "flutter or two," I took 

 no part in steeplechasing proper until after I had left the 

 University. 



During the racing season at Newmarket I used to hack 

 over to the heath and see all the races that my college 

 regulations allowed, and, during these visits, I made the 

 acquaintance of Sam Rogers — then riding for the Duke of 

 Bedford, whose horses were under the management and 

 control of Admiral Rous. As a rule, Rogers was not com- 

 municative ; but, as I never made a bet, and, therefore, never 

 asked his opinion as to what horse was likely to win, he was 

 always ready to talk to me about training, racing, riding, and 

 the best horses that he had ridden during his long experience. 



He was as a jockey, then, my hero ; and, even now, I 

 doubt if I could name a better judge of pace or a more accom- 

 plished horseman. 



He rode well to hounds ; though he would have nothing 

 but a thoroughbred one ; for which the country around New- 

 market is not well adapted. 



I accepted his sayings and instructions as if they were 

 oracular, and I have but little doubt that these contributed 

 largely to the development of my love of racehorses and of 

 racing. 



Having finished my career at the University, I determined 

 to devote the rest of my life to agricultural pursuits ; and, 

 without delay, I took up my residence with a very able and 

 successful tenant farmer whose holding was very little short of 

 1300 acres on the Cots wolds. 



Isaac Day — not, perhaps, the best known of the famous 



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