My Racing Adventures 



at all. What a loss to a few of their dearest 

 friends ! 



In 1902 my acquaintance with " Detail " com- 

 menced. That horse was owned by a lady, and 

 it did not seem to me that he was always man- 

 aged in the most judicious manner possible. My 

 desire is, however, to keep this chronicle absolutely 

 free from all controversial matter : if we do not 

 try to cheer up the blind man we need not cause 

 annoyance to the blind man's dog. "Detail's" 

 Grand National record may be thus succinctly 

 stated: 1902, fourth, ridden by me; 1903, second, 

 ridden by me ; 1904, knocked over, ridden by 

 me ; 1905, fell, ridden by Cowley. It would be 

 easy for me to write a great deal concerning this 

 horse and the " National," but, as intimated, my 

 intention is to keep these chapters light, breezy, 

 innocent of acrimonious allusion. Their genial 

 sporting interest is thus preserved. I always did 

 my best for " Detail," and I need say no more, 

 even if other people have said too much. My 

 position in regard to the matter has been amply 

 vindicated by subsequent events. 



In the same year (1894) when I won the 

 Liverpool Grand National on "Why Not," I 

 also rode the winner of the Scottish Grand 

 National. My mount on that occasion was 



210 



