Gentlemen Riders 



that time there were some extraordinary characters. It was a 

 very sporting place, and among others staying there was Jim 

 Park, late of the 22nd Regiment, who once owned The Gillie, 

 and whose memory for racing was about the most marvellous 

 I ever came across. We were all living at the Lion Hotel, 

 and had everything heart of man could desire, except ready 

 money. The host (Fred Bowles), a celebrated sportsman, 

 whose sayings and deeds would fill a good-sized book, always 

 had some horses in training, and as he never gave more than 

 a * pony ' for any of them, I think he made it pay. I remember 

 his complaining to me the only horse he ever bought for a 

 larger sum was the only one he never won a race with. 

 George Dodson was then living at Freestone, and made two 

 very lucky deals when he bought Kangaroo and Goldfinder 

 from their breeders. 



" In 1874 I went to Richards Castle to ride for him and a 

 friend of mine, H. A. Newman, late of the 40th. Kangaroo 

 was, or rather would have been, about the best horse in 

 England over a country ; but he had an extraordinary way 

 of falling, which I could never account for. I won a race or 

 two on him, but he gave me some very bad falls, breaking 

 three or four ribs and a wrist, besides a concussion or two. 

 At last, in the Severn Bank at Worcester, he 'came it,' when 

 he had his race absolutely won, and * outed ' me badly. I did 

 not recover consciousness till late that night, and, as I came 

 to, I heard Dodson and one or two more talkine as to who 

 should ride him next day. On some one being suggested, 

 Dodson was just wondering whether he would be capable of 

 keeping the horse on his legs, when I astonished them all by 

 chipping in with, ' Yes, if he could fix a pulley in the sky ! ' 

 And I think I about hit the mark, for he fell at the second 

 fence and lamed himself so badly he had to be shot. On 



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