Gentlemen Riders 



country in the middle of the seventeenth century. Educated, 

 first at the Edinburgh Academy, and subsequently at a private 

 tutor's, it was originally intended for him to enter the Army, 

 but the sudden death of his father altered all his plans, and he 

 finally settled down at home to live the life of a country gentle- 

 man for which he was so admirably fitted. 



He first sported silk in 1873, his initial ride, we believe, 

 being over the old Border Hunt Steeplechase course of 

 Stodrig, and out of his sixteen rides during the year, he won 

 eight, an average he kept up to the end of his career in the 

 saddle. Soon after this he had the good luck to acquire three 

 horses — all the produce of one animal — a mare by Russborough, 

 which, indeed, did credit to his judgment. This trio, whose 

 achievements still dwell in the memory of north-country 

 sportsmen, were Percy, by Hotspur ; Merry Lass, a daughter 

 of Laughing Stock ; and Douglas, a son of Sincerity ; and 

 between them won no fewer than fifty-one races out of sixty- 

 eight attempts. 



Percy was, perhaps, his owner's favourite of the three, but 

 in reality there was little to choose between them. Percy and 

 Douglas tied in the number of wins, but Douglas lost three 

 more races than Percy. On the other hand, Douglas beat 

 Goldfinder at level weights, and gave Montauban 16 lbs. and 

 a beating when the latter was at his best, and spoken about as 

 a likely Grand National winner. Merry Lass, not to be behind- 

 hand, won ten out of the twenty-three races she ran in. In 

 the eighties, Mr. Cunningham was certainly the most successful 

 amateur then riding. In one year his total was 52 wins out of 

 100 mounts; the next he won 49 out of 100; and in 1886 

 43 out of 76, which last is a record we should say is unpre- 

 cedented in the annals of steeplechasing. 



Other well-known horses of his were Harlequin, White 



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