Gentlemen Riders 



race meeting Captain Yardley rode every winner, and on 

 several occasions rode the winners of four out of six races 

 during the day. A great proportion of the races were across 

 country, and he twice rode the winner of the Grand Annual 

 Steeplechase on Scamp and Di Gama. This race was always 

 run at Pietermaritzburg and corresponds to our Grand National. 

 Steeplechasing in those days was very popular in Natal, and 

 The Mercury^ the leading newspaper, was said to have kept in 

 type, " Captain Yardley enjoyed his usual pleasant ride across 

 the sticks." 



J.D.B., Spy, and Coachman were some well-known horses 

 Captain Yardley owned at this time. Coachman he owned 

 in partnership with Captain, now General, M. F. Rimington, 

 C.B., with whom he raced ; he himself training their respective 

 horses. One great secret of his success he attributes to well 

 schooling his horses, the obstacles being very stiff, consisting 

 chiefly of sod banks, stone-faced walls, and post and rails, 

 whilst the hurdles consisted entirely of solid posts and rails 

 which would not give or break. The stakes, as a rule, were 

 not large, and there were few bookmakers. On the other hand, 

 selling lotteries enabled good sums to be won. " At one 

 meeting," relates Colonel Yardley, " the garrison gave an open 

 race over which we stood to win a big stake, but were only 

 placed second. It was pointed out to me that the winner 

 weighed in with his whip, so I objected and must certainly 

 have got the race, but for the General of the district giving 

 it as his opinion, that a civilian having won, it was bad form 

 to object, and I was persuaded to withdraw, with the result 

 that the next day the sporting papers soundly rated me, 

 saying if soldiers raced they ought to conform to the rules 

 of racing. 



"A curious incident," goes on the Colonel, "happened 



332 



