LORD WILLIAM'S REBUKE 



King of England dressed very badly. Of course this 

 leaked through somehow, and Lord Marcus afterwards 

 called me over the coals for what had appeared. I 

 was, and am, quite sure that it had only been written 

 to cause trouble. Anyhow Lord Marcus said severely, 

 " You should never speak of him [meaning the Prince] 

 at all." 



" I never did, my lord," I answered. " The most 

 I ever did was to answer a question of one paper saying 

 that the Prince was a great sportsman, speaking of 

 the pleasure all English people had in seeing him walk- 

 ing round like a private citizen in the paddock with 

 no one bothering him at all." 



Speaking about being presented : when the present 

 King George, then Duke of York, was at one of the 

 July meetings at Newmarket Lord William came in 

 the Plantation where I was just ready to get in the 

 saddle, and told me I was to speak to the Duke, the 

 Duchess, and one or two others of the royal family. 

 The Duke of York shook hands with me and asked 

 questions, and I bowed low, having a bit of experience 

 by this time. I thought I was getting on fine. The 

 conversation lasted quite two minutes, and the present 

 King was very kind to me. I was tickled to death 

 when I was shaken hands with and went off to mount. 

 I looked to Lord William for approval but he hadn't 

 got a smile, and only said quite simply : " WTiy didn't 

 you take your hat off ? " 



This got me up and I bleated : " Why should I 

 have to go back to the jockeys' room right over on 

 the other side of the course, my lord ? I should have 

 to brush my hair and tie my cap on again. I shouldn't 

 have had time. I couldn't have ridden in this race 

 then. Remember I'm an American, my lord, and 

 don't understand all these things." 



93 



