My Racing Adventures 



My first ride in the "National" was in 1886, 

 when I steered Baron de Tuyll's " The Badger," 

 and was unplaced. Curiously, "Frigate," a grand 

 juniper, fell at the first fence that year ; she was 

 ridden by the late John Jones, who told me 

 afterwards that if he had fallen off her he could 

 not have been more astonished. In 1887 I did 

 not perform in this race, but my brother William 

 rode " Sinbad," trained by my father, and owned 

 by Mr J. Percival, who was then a large and 

 well-known bookmaker. The end of " Sinbad " 

 was tragical. In a steeplechase at Sandown he 

 was again ridden by W. Nightingall, whilst I 

 had the leg-up on Sir Simon Lockhart's " Silver 

 Chief" — both horses were in our stable — in the 

 same race. Both fell when leading at the last 

 fence, and " Sinbad " put his shoulder out, so 

 that he had to be destroyed. Our "grief" let 

 up old Jack Childs, who won on " Johnny Long- 

 tail." Such are the fortunes of war. We must 

 be thankful if we do not lose part of our scalp 

 and all our money. 



In 1888 I steered "The Badger" again at 

 Aintree, and was again unsuccessful. He was a 

 useful horse, and had won a number of hunters' 

 steeplechases, but he was not quite up to 

 " Liverpool " form. In that year the cross- 



206 



