Some Racing Experiences 225 



from the winuing-post I called ou my mount for a final 

 effort, and we won by a neck. I never was more beaten, 

 however, myself in a race in my life. Of course I was 

 thoroughly out of condition, though, even if I had been 

 quite fit, it would have been still a severe race to ride. 

 The next day I received a most unexpected compliment. 

 A hospitable friend was giving a luncheon party before the 

 races began, when an owner of racehorses, with whom I 

 had but a very slight acquaintance, came up and asked if 

 I was the owner of the winner of the Hunt Cup. I 

 answered in the affirmative, when he made the remark, 

 " Ah, you owed that win to your jockey and not to the 

 horse." Being unaware that he was ignorant of who the 

 jockey had been, I felt much surprised, and as the others 

 began to laugh, he appeared nettled and repeated, " It's 

 quite true — it was the jockey who won that race." " Why, 

 he rode it himself," said a bystander, whereupon the other 

 hurriedly apologised and retired much confused. It was 

 certainly very amusing, but one could not help being pleased 

 at the compliment, unintentional though it was. 



After " Elmina's " race at the Curragh I took her to 

 Cork Park, and seldom has a horse started with less amount 

 of " schooling " than she did. All the practice she had 

 had was to be led over a leaping-bar, and then to be jumped 

 over three jumps in a tiny paddock at Mr. M'Donald's 

 stables at Ashtown Gate. It was the only place I could 

 get to teach her to jump, as it was in the middle of 

 summer, and I should have given up the idea of going to 

 Cork unless that famous steeplechase rider, Mr. Allen 

 M'Donough, had declared that the mare jumped quite 

 well enough and was sure to win. Moreover, he had the 

 courage of his opinion and backed the mare. In the race 

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