Gentlemen Riders 



sympathetic tutor in the shape of his brother officer, Captain 

 "Wenty" Hope- Johnstone, one of the finest cross-country 

 horsemen of his day both in the Army and out of it, and who 

 later on became his brother-in-law, to whose invaluable help 

 and advice he always declared himself indebted for his ultimate 

 success in the saddle. 



How painstaking a pupil he proved is best described in his 

 mentor's own words : — 



" When Willie Morris joined the 7th Hussars," says Captain 

 Hope-Johnstone, " he was devoted to horses and riding-, and 

 by studying the whole thing and keeping at it, he soon became 

 a perfect jockey ; and as he was a nice weight, had good hands, 

 and was kind to the horses, he was in great demand." 



Of his numerous victories all over the United Kingdom, the 

 most important were the Irish Grand Military on Witch Hazel 

 at Punchestown in 1879, the Grand Military Hunt Cup on 

 May Bloom in 1880, and the Gold Cup on Chilblain in 1897 

 and 1898. 



Of the horses belonging to himself, the best was Wild 

 Norah H. by Lord Ronald, on whom in 1879 he won the Irish 

 Grand Military Hunt Steeplechase at Punchestown, and the 

 Regimental Challenge Cup, and the Hussar Challenge Cup at 

 the 7th Hussars' Meeting at Newbridge. He also won a race 

 at Caird on a horse called Gentleman when on active service 

 with the regiment in 1882. 



Major Morris only rode on one occasion in the Grand 

 National, viz. in 1885, when he had the mount on Downpatrick, 

 third to Empress in 1880; the horse, however, broke down 

 when looking extremely dangerous, soon after landing on to 

 the race-course the second time round. 



Referring to his sad death in the hunting field. Captain 

 Hope-Johnstone writes : — 



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