Celebrities of the Past Thirty Years i6i 



The other point I wish to call attention to 

 is not of such importance to the well-being 

 of the sport as the question of the regulation 

 ditch, but it certainly is of sufficient gravity 

 to demand attention. I refer to the present 

 rule as to the qualification of riders, and the 

 way it works out in practice. Officers of the 

 Army and Navy, and members of certain well- 

 known clubs, are most properly admitted to 

 ride as amateurs, without further qualifica- 

 tion. But why stop there ? Surely a Barrister, 

 a Doctor of Medicine or of Civil Law, any 

 man who has taken a degree at a recognised 

 university, and many others whom one need 

 not more particularly specify here, should be 

 as eligible to ride as officers of the two Ser- 

 vices ? And there must be " somethine^ rotten 

 in the State " when we are treated to the 

 daily sight of trainers, men, half-professional 

 jockey, half-groom, and others of the same 

 kidney, riding as amateurs. I have personally 

 known several men debarred from riding, 

 because as members of " learned " professions 

 they dared not put themselves up for election 



