Mr. GEORGE J. THURSBY 



We once overheard an animated discussion between a noble 

 lord and an Art dealer of large experience as to what difference 

 there was between a professional artist and an amateur. 



"Why," argued the nobleman, "shouldn't the work of one 

 be just as good as that of the other ? " 



"Well, I'll tell you, my lord," replied the dealer. "The 

 former being absolutely dependent on his art for a living, does 

 his level best accordingly, knowing full well that otherwise he 

 will starve. The amateur, on the other hand, though perhaps 

 equally talented — probably more so — merely trifles with art 

 pour passer le temps^ as it were, and is perfectly indifferent 

 whether the result of his handiwork is good, bad, or indifferent." 



It appears to us that these remarks as applied to Art are 

 equally adaptable to gentlemen riders as a body. In this 

 case, however, there have been, and are, exceptions, though 

 very few, and we do not think we shall be accused of flattery in 

 naming Mr. George Thursby as one of them, for not only does 

 he work quite as hard as any professional, but it is equally 

 certain that very few of the latter riding at the present time 

 are capable of giving him much weight, if any, indeed. 



Born in 1869, he started the career he had from the 

 beginning mapped out for himself by studying, not only the 

 art of race-riding but that of training, under the able tuition of 

 the late J. R. Humphreys, at Stork House, Lambourn, and 

 that the latter proved a capable tutor the whole racing world 

 can testify. In 1890 and 1891 the subject of this memoir rode 

 in a few cross-country races, but that course not meeting with 

 the approval of his father, the late Sir John Thursby, he 



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