CHAPTER IX 



A GLORIOUS WIND-UP 



The Babyin the " Pram "-Nearly a Tragedy-Dining with an American 

 Owner-I have a " Follow "-The Record at Manchester-Four 

 Wmners and One Second— Police Protection— Dodging Swollen 

 Head— Those who claimed me— How Molly Plumb nearly spanked 



I RODE various winners in the last three weeks of the 

 season of 1897 : Amhurst in a big field at Lingfield, 

 and a horse named Bambini at that dangerous 

 place, Northampton. I heard afterwards that the 

 course was done away with, and quite right too, for 

 It was certainly about the trappiest track I ever 

 struck. I shall never forget that race, but the danger 

 that particular day didn't come from the galloping 

 Itself. Right down beyond the turn, with no idea 

 that the horses were so near, was a woman trying to 

 get a baby carriage with a baby in it over the low rail 

 —a bit of gas-piping or something— to the other side 

 of the course ! She managed to get the front wheels 

 over, or half the " pram," and then it stuck. As we 

 came along we could see it. To whoever was on the 

 rails—and I was there— it meant certain destruction- 

 destruction to the baby and the baby-carriage or to 

 the jockey and his horse— or both. -^— was on my 

 whip hand and he was keeping me pinned on the rails. 

 I looked at him but he wouldn't catch my eye. I 

 shouted but— nothing doing. There was only one 

 course to take to save life and limb and I took it. I 

 barged into him and nearly knocked him over. But 



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