Gentlemen Riders 



this description, we take leave to vacate the chair and leave 

 the gallant " Shaver " to tell the story in his own words. 



" There were three runners " (writes Captain Lee-Barber), 

 " Ireland, ridden by myself, Whirlwind (Dollery), in the same 

 stable as mine (Ryan's), and The Saint (Arthur Nightingall) ; 

 Ireland being favourite at 2 to i on. The Saint 5 to i, and 

 Whirlwind 100 to 8. 



" In the race — three miles — which The Saint on the rails 

 made a cracker, my horse jumped very badly, failing to get 

 his hind quarters over his fences, dragging his hind legs 

 through them, and consequently losing ground each time. 

 Not so the old Saint, who flirted over them in gorgeous style. 

 About a mile from home, Ireland, who had contracted a habit 

 of checking his bit and hanging to the off side (a great dis- 

 advantage on a left-handed course), began hanging very badly, 

 and I had to take out my whip and ride him all I knew to 

 keep on terms with The Saint. So it went on over the last 

 three fences in the country. After landing on to the race- 

 course there is a sharp turn to the left, and mine was still 

 hanging badly, and it must have cost me a good two lengths, 

 for whereas The Saint was close on the rails on the inside, 

 I was out in the middle of the course. 



" However, I kept at it, with the whip still out, and gradually 

 overhauling The Saint, who had no turn of speed, I got up 

 in the last two strides and won by a neck, amidst a scene 

 of excitement such as is seldom witnessed at a Steeplechase 

 meeting. 



"So wide of one another were Arthur Nightingall and 

 myself that for the moment I had no idea which of us had won. 



" I was not long in doubt, however, the ovation with which 

 I was received on my return to scale speaking for itself. One 

 gentleman shouted out, as he clapped me on the back, * Well 



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