CHAPTER XXVI 



DARK CLOUDS 



The Black Outlook — Riding Gallops — Losing ^20,000 — Sale of Mauvezin — 

 Lord Harewood's Advice — Throes of Unrest 



On Thursday, the day after the Cambridgeshire was 

 run, the Stewards sent for me. I guessed what w^as 

 coming. They told me that it had come to their know- 

 ledge that I had some big bets on Codoman, and also 

 that I had been promised a present by a certain 

 gentleman if the horse won. I acknowledged both 

 things at once, and then they asked : 



" Don't 5^ou know it's against the rules for a boy to 

 bet ? " 



I explained that I thought it was all right — as it 

 was in America — for a jockey to back what he rode 

 himself but that it was all wrong if he backed any other 

 animal. I also admitted that Mr Frank Gardner had 

 promised me a handsome present, running into four 

 figures of money, in the event of my winning. 



They reprimanded me, and I went out to ride as 

 usual, finishing up the week with the win on Encombe, 

 whom, as I have said, I advised King Edward — ^then 

 Prince of Wales — ^to back. 



Returning at once to London I let myself loose on a 

 life of pleasure and I thoroughly enjoyed the change, 

 although naturally in a very few days I was physically 

 unfit. It didn't seem to matter though, as I had 

 announced — ^and it had been stated in the sporting 

 papers — that I was not to be in the saddle any more 

 that year. 



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