Gentlemen Riders 



Mr. C. J. CUNNINGHAM 



Dating from 1873, in which year he first sported silk, until 

 his premature death in October, 1906, there was no better 

 known or more popular personality at the principal steeple- 

 chase fixtures, more particularly those in the north of England 

 and in Scotland, than that of Charlie Cunningham. 



An enthusiastic sportsman, especially where steeplechasing 

 was concerned, and a fine, bold horseman to boot, it was the 

 one desire of his life to ride the winner of the Grand National, 

 and how nearly this desirable consummation became an accom- 

 plished fact with the aid of Why Not is, of course, historical. 



His first appearance in a Liverpool field was 1887, when he 

 rode Old Joe (11 st. 10 lbs.), the winner of the previous year, 

 who started at 100 to 8, but had nothing to do with the finish. 



The following year he had a leg up on Bellona (i i st. 12 lbs.), 

 belonging to Mr. T. B. Miller, who, however, fell at the first 

 fence after landing on the race-course the first time round. 



In 1889 he and Why Not (11 st. 5 lbs.) made their first 

 bold bid for victory, being only done out of it by Frigate by a 

 length after a most exciting race from the last fence. 



The next year Why Not, whose weight was now 1 2 st. 5 lbs., 

 starting at 100 to 9, fell at the fourth fence from the start, not- 

 withstanding which Mr. Cunningham, rapidly remounting, 

 succeeded in getting fifth to Ilex — a good performance both 

 of man and horse. 1891 was again an unlucky year for the 

 two partners. Why Not (12 st. 4 lbs.), when looking all over 

 a winner, falling heavily at the second fence from home, his 

 plucky rider being so badly hurt that he had to be removed in 

 an ambulance. 



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