Gentlemen Riders 



of a neighbouring friend. A well-known owner, who had just 

 been introduced to Mr. Meysey-Thompson, inquired if he was 

 the owner of Outlaw, and then congratulated him on having 

 won the day before, adding, " Ah, you may thank your jockey 

 for winning that race." As every one supposed the speaker 

 was aware who the jockey had been, a thrill of surprise was 

 so evident Mr. F. added with emphasis, "Well, it was the 

 jockey who won it, and not the horse ! " At this remark 

 laughter became so general one of the party interposed, " Why, 

 he rode the horse himself! " whereupon the other turned away 

 covered with confusion. A further flattering compliment was 

 then paid by the late Major T. Sowerby, an enthusiastic 

 amateur, who had also ridden in the race. Entering the room 

 at that moment, he came up to Mr. Meysey-Thompson and 

 congratulated him, adding, " I would gladly give a thousand 

 pounds to have ridden the race you did yesterday." Poor 

 fellow ; shortly afterwards he was killed by a tame stag in his 

 own park. 



Mr. Meysey-Thompson's racing career was now finished, 

 and this was his last winning ride, twenty years after he first 

 wore silk at the Waterloo meeting in 1867. ^ ^^^ years 

 afterwards he was returning from a fishing expedition to 

 Ireland, when a stranger got into his carriage at Bangor, and 

 presently Mr. Meysey-Thompson, who was reading the news- 

 paper, began to be aware he was being watched, so looked 

 up. The new-comer, who did not divulge his name, inquired 

 rather excitedly, "Are you not Mr. Meysey-Thompson, the 

 jockey ? " and on receiving a reply in the affirmative, went on, 

 " I am so glad to meet you. I used to follow you all over to 

 back your mounts. I have often crossed from England to 

 Ireland and back to do so after you came from Spain, but 

 my difficulty was to find out when you were going to ride." 



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