My Racing Adventures 



increased weight, and none of us are fond of 

 "wasting" ourselves to death in the hope of 

 getting a living. 



With respect to trials, moreover, I may men- 

 tion here a melancholy incident which occurred 

 in our family. My eldest brother John — who 

 had just ridden his first winner on " Brassey " at 

 Eltham — had a mount in a trial at Headley 

 Common, when his horse bolted with him (he 

 was only fourteen), and dashed his head violently 

 against a tree, death being almost immediate. 

 He promised to become a brilliant jockey. So 

 far as I am aware, poor " Johnnie " was the only 

 Nightingall who has met his death in conse- 

 quence of a riding accident. 



Recognising the necessity of the best sort 

 of practice for us, my father encouraged both 

 William and myself, when we were boys, to ride 

 on the flat in public for nothing. We did that 

 on several occasions with considerable success : 

 a juvenile conspirator who expects nothing is not 

 easily routed. Mr E. Woodland, the estimable 

 trainer and thorough sportsman, often gave me 

 a leg up — I could go to scale at about 7 st. 5 lb. 

 at that time — and one of my earliest winners 

 was ridden for that gentleman. His daughter, 

 Miss May Woodland, is undoubtedly the finest 



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