Some Rides Abroad 



the stone wall, but I got up, remounted, and 

 finished the race in style. There was a little 

 applause for that enterprising pilot ; the punters 

 were eager to express their appreciation, though 

 it went no further. Another time, however, at 

 the same meeting, they did not treat me with 

 equal generosity. I was third in a big steeple- 

 chase, when it was basely alleged against me 

 that I had bored a jockey across the course in 

 order to attain that position, and my number 

 was never put up. What I had done was simply 

 to pick the best going. How was I to help it 

 if the other fellow got into my way and was 

 forced to take the consequences ? And I think 

 they ought at least to have put my number up. 



At Buda-Pesth I had a curious experience in 

 connection with the starting-gate. It dragged 

 me off my horse and threw me on my back. We 

 were practising some horses at the gate before 

 racing ; only part of the apparatus went up, I was 

 hung up in the other part, and came down with 

 a terrible crash. Another of the usual "good 

 shakings" was placed to the credit of my account. 

 A second jockey entangled in the same webbing 

 had nearly all the skin taken off one side of his 

 face, but my fatal beauty was left unimpaired. 

 What it has cost me, to be sure, in various ways! 



57 



