My Racing Adventures 



by Standard — Gisela, and just as my hopes were 

 highest — since I had already captured several of 

 the most important races in my mind — " Thirsk " 

 broke down. His poor legs were unequal to 

 the strain of being wound up to the necessary 

 point of fitness. And, as an old trainer used to 

 say at moments of exaltation, " I must have my 

 horses as fit as other people's, or, when I try to 

 beat other people's, they will give me fits, so to 

 speak, in the course of a desperate encounter." 



But one gradually recovers tone in the days of 

 our youth, even after such a disappointment as 

 that experienced in connection with " Thirsk." 

 One's first breakdown is naturally very bitter; 

 yet, alas, it is nothing as compared with what 

 inevitably follows. Nature accommodates herself 

 to the blow, and are we not all awaiting the final 

 knock-out ? Others we may dodge, but not that 

 one, which is the sort of " shooter " sure to bowl 

 us out at last. 



For the late Mr Barney Barnato I trained the 

 first race-horse he ever owned. It was not a good 

 one ; it could not go fast enough to make an im- 

 pression on the leaders. The late Baron Hirsch 

 also sent me an alleged " flyer," whose wings 

 were found to be deficient — that is, his speed left 

 so much to be desired when he was fully extended 



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