George Morland; his life and works . ough life ofthe race-course ; and in writing to Dawe he says: Youmust know I have commenced a new business of jockeyto the races. I was sent for to Mount Pleasant, by agentleman of the Turf, to ride a race for the Silver Cup, asI am thought to be the best horseman here. I went thereand was weighed, and was afterwards dressed in a tightstriped jacket and jockeys cap, and lifted on the horse,led to the start, placed in the rank and file ; three parts ofthe people out of four laid great bets that I should win thecup, etc. Then the drums beat, and we started; t
George Morland; his life and works . ough life ofthe race-course ; and in writing to Dawe he says: Youmust know I have commenced a new business of jockeyto the races. I was sent for to Mount Pleasant, by agentleman of the Turf, to ride a race for the Silver Cup, asI am thought to be the best horseman here. I went thereand was weighed, and was afterwards dressed in a tightstriped jacket and jockeys cap, and lifted on the horse,led to the start, placed in the rank and file ; three parts ofthe people out of four laid great bets that I should win thecup, etc. Then the drums beat, and we started; twas afour-mile heat, and the first three miles I could not keepthe horse behind them, being so spirited an animal; bythat means he exhausted himself, and I soon had themortification to see them come galloping past me, hissingand laughing, while I was spurring his guts out. The people who had been backing the horse appear,according to Morlands story, to have become enragedwith him for losing the race, and determined to visit their 26. MARRIAGE AND HOUSEKEEPING 27 vengeance upon him. A mob of horsemen, he says, then gathered round, telling me I could not ride, which isalways the way if you lose the heat; they began at last touse their whips, and, finding I could not get away, Idirectly pulled off my jacket, laid hold of the bridle, andoffered battle to the man who began first, though he was bigenough to eat me; several gentlemen rode in, and all themob turned over to me, and I was led away in triumphwith shouts. This exciting scene does not seem to havechilled the ardour of our artist for the race-course, and alittle afterwards we hear of his riding in another race atMargate, and being very nearly killed. I rode for agentleman, he says, and won the heat so completelythat when I came into the starting-place the other horseswere near half a mile behind me. This time it was hissuccess that brought him the vengeance of the mob, andpoor George Morland appears to have been just asunfor
Size: 1481px × 1687px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondongbellandsons
