"Why Not" 



his time is not occupied in training "Manifestos" 

 and " Soarers " to score at Aintree, he is capable 

 of putting in some good work as an inimitable 

 raconteur. If he fails to tickle their fancy, 

 listeners are in a bad way. 



" Why Not " had run more than once in the 

 "National" before I had the mount on him there, 

 and he had acquired a disagreeable habit of fall- 

 ing. He was ridden in his first essays by the 

 late Mr C. Cunningham, who was in my opinion 

 too long in the leg, although a fine horseman, to 

 ride with success a short-legged horse like "Why 

 Not." At any rate, their partnership was not 

 felicitous ; it was frequently dissolved. 



To make the story clear, also, I must mention 

 that the only fault in connection with " Why 

 Not's " jumping was that he used to " pitch " 

 on landing, especially over the large Liverpool 

 fences, and it was necessary to sit well back on 

 him, or trouble might easily result. The weight 

 of a man on a horse's neck will help to throw 

 him down if the animal " pitches " as described ; 

 and that was what I had to guard against par- 

 ticularly. It was not a very difficult job so far 

 as I was personally concerned — I mean as to the 

 "lepping." " Why Not " gave me no shocks that 

 might not be reasonably scheduled as legitimate, 



113 h 



