Gentlemen Riders 



taking any riding in that fearful and wonderful bridle, he went 

 first-rate, and when we got amongst the trappy fences, I left 

 the others, was never caught, and won easily, to the delight of 

 his owner, as the horse, though he had carried him out hunting, 

 had never run before in a steeplechase. He gave me a silver 

 hunting-flask as a souvenir, with Revirescat on one side, and a 

 suitable inscription on the other." 



The horse of all others most closely identified with Captain 

 Hope-Johnstone was his old favourite Champion, at the time 

 we penned this chapter (1907), twenty- three years old, sound, 

 and free from blemish. 



The gallant grey, who was a genuine pet of the public, ran 

 in all ninety-nine times, out of which he won thirty-seven races, 

 was second in thirty-three, and third in eight. He never once 

 refused either racing or schooling. Hunting, oddly enough, 

 never interested him at all. Once or twice he got beaten by 

 jumping too slow, but on many occasions he won by jumping 

 quick. 



He was a famous horse to ride, and ran best when left alone 

 and the going was good. At two and a half miles, his owner 

 will tell you, he could safely be backed to beat bad ones with 

 any weight you liked to put on his back. 



Keeping his weight down perpetually began at last to tell, 

 and though still devoted to the game, Captain Hope-Johnstone 

 gave up riding in public in 1897. 



In 1876 he headed the list of Gentlemen Riders with 45 

 winning mounts, and in 1877 ^^^ better still, with 55 wins out 

 of 114 rides. 



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