Gentlemen Riders 



I always rode him afterwards, and was very fond of the 

 horse, for we were always the best of friends, and he gave me 

 many a good winning ride. We ran him everywhere, in- 

 cluding Ireland, where we took him to run for the Conyngham 

 Cup at Punchestown, and the Irish Grand National at Fairy- 

 house. We were beaten in both, which I fully expected, as 

 three miles was his limit, and the Conyngham Cup is four. 

 He started a hot favourite, for some reason, but could only get 

 second. He ran a real good horse, however, as he always did, 

 and, for a wonder, made one mistake ; he got a bit too far on 

 the first double, but popped a foot down somewhere and 

 landed all right. The best ride I ever had in the course of my 

 career was on the Saint at Liverpool at the autumn meeting 

 of 1887. I knew that my only chance was to utilise his 

 wonderful jumping powers and quickness over fences, so set a 

 real strong pace accordingly. 



He had never been to Aintree before, so the big fences 

 there were a treat for him. I could not have believed it 

 possible that even a bold free jumping horse could have 

 jumped them in the way he did. He got lengths to the good 

 at every fence. In the end Why Not won. It was before the 

 course was altered, and he caught me between the two flights 

 of hurdles, and had the speed of me at the finish ; otherwise 

 it was a thoroughly enjoyable ride and one I shall never 

 forget. 



My most successful day was at the Household Brigade 

 Meeting in 1 887. I had six rides, of which four were winners, and 

 the other two seconds. I have always thought that with decent 

 luck I might have won all six races, for I never rode a better 

 race than on Captain Childe's Neck or Nothing, a horrible brute 

 that he insisted on running, and that I was bound to ride for 

 him. He could neither gallop nor jump, and the only thing 



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