My First Winners 



A friend complimented me on my immunity 

 from damage in connection with that series of 

 "purlers," stating that if I had been born an 

 acrobat I could not have given a more talented 

 exhibition of the art of tumbling. Somersaults 

 from the saddle, so he described them, adding : 

 " Whether you fall on your feet or on your 

 features, the result seems to be the same — 

 spectators are equally thrilled." 



It is such badinage that we are obliged to hear 

 when we return to the paddock after being tossed 

 about as if our lives were superfluous. It has 

 been my custom to affect a similar spirit of 

 jocularity, even if I felt it not in consequence of 

 internal or similar pain. Besides, alas, we get 

 nothing extra for pulling a long face, or for the 

 time spent on our back in the ambulance. If 

 we are not left to " lick the dew off the grass," 

 minor considerations need not be regarded as 

 appalling. Thirst is soon appeased in the manner 

 indicated. 



My riding adventures at Ludlow have been, 



indeed, full of excitement. On 2nd May 1890, 



I won the Great Shropshire Handicap of 3 



miles on " Ireland," with " Wilton " (steered by 



Mr " Chris." Waller) second. All the runners 



in that race fell except the first two — a fact 



31 



