160 



among Irish Corinthian riders thirty years ago, and my mount was 

 a right good-looking horse ; moreover, this was my first try between the 

 flags. Five-and-twenty went to the post, and on the way I well remem- 

 ber poor Tom McCraith calling to " Mr. Thomas " to look at the string- 

 of silks and satins, asking him if he could see such a sight in England ! 



Of course every one of the twenty-five thought he was going to win. 

 I know I had visionary notions to that effect, but still I asked McCraith 

 what was best for me to do. His answer was to this effect : — " The race, 

 bar accidents, is between Tom Pickernel and me, unless Apjohn beats 

 us ; so get away in front as soon as the flag falls, for if you stay in the 

 ruck you will be knocked down, and may be your first will be your 

 last steeplechase." 



Accordingly, to the front I went when Clancey dropped his flag, andy 

 alongside the two gentlemen named, jumped the big double into the 

 present Conyngham Cup Course, the first time a silk jacket faced it. 



Poor McCraith's tip as to the result of our race was amazingly correct^ 

 for it was won by Ben Bolt with Mr. Pickernel (" Mr. Thomas ") up, 

 while Kate Fisher and Valentine, ridden respectively by Mr. Tommy 

 Apjohn and Captain McCraith, were second and third. My satisfaction 

 after the race was not quite as great as before it, for I was a long way 

 astern of those three— and others besides— at the finish ! Never mind ; 

 the gallop gave me huge delight all the same, and it is pleasurable 

 even now to recall it to memory. 



To clear from field to field the old double in the Herd's Garden although 

 the height, as I have said, is under 3ft., requires a horse to cover at least 

 20ft. in an arc at least 26ft. This has been attempted by many horses, 

 but very few have accomplished the feat without a fall, and some have 

 killed themselves in the attempt. The only horses I remember to have 

 landed in safety without lajdng an iron on it are Redman, Lord George 

 (an English horse), and Charity Boy ; but others, no doubt, may have 

 done so. 



I need not say that when these aerial eccentricities were performed it 

 was not usually with the consent of the jockeys ; there was, however, an 

 exception in the person of Captain Johnny Bates of the 4th Dragoon 

 Guards. That gentleman's great ambition was to ride a horse from field 

 to field over the double, and he invariably tried to gratify it on the 

 many mounts he had some years ago at Punchestown, but I don't think 

 he ever succeeded. 



I was witness in 1864 of a very terrible accident, perhaps the most 

 fearful I ever saw on a steeplechase course. It was in the Welter Stakes, 

 Captain McCraith on Forager and Mr. George Knox on Hard Times had 

 come away from their field, and were going head and head for their race» 

 but after crossing the last fence they got entangled in the ropes and 

 posts which were supposed to mark the line of the run-in. Most 

 awful falls were the result to both. McCraith and Knox, together with 

 their horses, lay in a heap senseless. One unfortunate rustic was killed on 

 the spot, and injuries of very severe nature were sustained by several 



