Gentlemen Riders 



at the old Cambridgeshire Stand at the top of the town, and 

 Sir John Astley's horse, who was favourite, and ridden by 

 a boy who had won the Apprentices' Plate — the first on record 

 — the previous day, was promptly made favourite. The race 

 proved the good thing it looked for Drumhead, and so 

 evidently thought Master Wainwright, the youth in question, 

 for, nearing the judge's box, he dropped his hands and eased 

 his horse, with the result that the good thing nearly came 

 undone, for Jim Goater, close behind, who had ceased per- 

 severing, at once grasping the situation, set his own horse going 

 again, and all but caught the too confident youngster on the 

 post, Drumhead just winning by the skin of his teeth. 



This fact in no way disconcerted the victorious apprentice, 

 the expression on whose face, as he rode back to the enclosure, 

 literally grinning from ear to ear, was a study. The next 

 instant he was laughing the wrong side of his mouth, as the 

 saying is, for in the very act of dismounting he received such 

 a " reminder " from the dog whip, wielded in no half-hearted 

 fashion by his irate master, Charles Blanton, as made him 

 nearly jump out of his skin. 



The late Duke of St. Albans, who was standing by at the 

 time, expressed his opinion, audibly, that it was a shame, 

 adding, that it would serve the trainer right if he were 

 summoned for assault. 



We cannot help thinking, however, that had the Duke 

 stood the winner he would have come to the same con- 

 clusion as ourselves, and other of Drumhead's backers who 

 witnessed the race, viz. that it was a clear case of "Sarved 

 him right ! " 



We may mention that the same youth, when winning his 

 maiden race the day before, took off his cap and waved it in 

 derision at the beaten jockeys, as he passed the post. 



2IO 



