Mr F. V. GoocJi. 325 



trains his jumpers on the same ground at Ascot as Ben Land 

 used to train. He well deserves the reputation of being 

 the best dressed and best 'turned out' man either on a 

 horse or on the box seat of a coach in England, and is 

 consequently an object of envy to all the young Guardsmen 

 who follow the Windsor Drag Hounds, with which he always 

 takes a prominent place. He is a fine horseman 'between 

 the flags,' as well as in the hunting field, and is particularly 

 good in showing high-class park hacks of his own breaking. 

 One of his last wins was the Drag Hunt Cup this year at 

 Windsor on May Morn. His first love was pony racing, in 

 the days when Sally Brass and Deuce of Diamonds were 

 unrivalled in their class. Coming home from hunting about 

 eighteen years ago poor George Fordham, who was very fond 

 of a good pony, offered to back a pony he had against any 

 other little one in the world. Mr Gooch, who was present, 

 accepted the challenge for three matches, at £25 each on 

 the flat, over a country and over hurdles, on behalf of Deuce 

 of Diamonds, who made such an example of Fordham's 

 pony in the first race, that Mr Gooch received forfeit for 

 the other two. Among all the good ponies I have known, 

 such as Gamecock, Skittles, Lord Clyde, Maythorn and 

 Sylvia, I have never met any I liked so much as Deuce of 

 Diamonds. Mr Gooch has owned Jack Frost, Papyrus, Red 

 Enamel, Bringari, Wisdom, May Morn, and many others. 



Among the gentlemen who came to our lectures on side- 

 saddle riding, was Mr Fred. Allen, who used to own the large 

 riding-school which is in Seymour Place, W., and which he 

 sold to Mr Haines. Mr Allen's father, Mr John Allen, built 

 this manege, and also wrote, in 1825, Modem Riding, in 

 which the system of side-saddle equitation, before M. Pellier 

 invented the third crutch, is described. In those days, high 

 school riding was diligently cultivated in England, and as 

 Mr John Allen was at the head of his profession in London, 

 his manege was attended by all the best people, and he 

 made, by his great ability as a teacher, an ample fortune. 



