THE AMATEUR RIDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2161, 25 July 1895, Page 38

THE AMATEUR RIDER.

(Sydney BxMctin.) Jlim going to ride for us I Him.— with the pants and the eyegl*Bß and all. ._,_,. . . Amateur ! dint he just look it— it's twenty to one on a fall. Bob 6 must be gone off his head to be sending our steeplechase crack Out over fences like those with an object like that - on his back. Hide 1 Don't tell me he can ride I "With his pants just as loose as balloons, How can he sit on his 'orse? and his spurs like a pair of harpoons ; Ought to be under the Dog Act, he ought, and be kept off the course. Fall I Why. he'd fall off a cart, let alone off a steeplechase horse. Yep, sir ! the 'orse is all ready— l wish you'd have rode him before ; Nothing like knowing your 'orse, sir, and this chap's a terror to bore ; Battleaxe always ould pull, and he rushes his fences like fun — Stands off bis jump twenty feet, and then springs like a Bhot from a gun. Ok ! he can jump 'em all right, sir, you make no mVake— 'e's a toff ; Clout,., 'cm in tamest, too, sometimes— you mind that he don't clout you off. Don't seem to mind how he hits 'em, his shins is as hard as a nail, Sometimes you'll see the fence shake and the splinters fly up from the rail. AH you can do is to hold him and just let him jump as he likes, Givo him his head at his fences, and hang on like death if he strikes ; Don't let him run himself out— you can lie third or fourth in the race — "Until you clear the stone wall, and from that you can put on the pace. 3MI at that wall once, he did, and it gave him a • regular spread ; Ever since that time he flies it— he'll stop if you . pull nt his head. Just let him race— you can trust him— he'll take first-class care he don't falJ, And I think that's the lot— but, remember, he must have his head at the'ivaU. Well, he's down safe as far as the start, and he seems to sit on pretty neat, Only bis baggified breeches would ruinate any- . one's seat. They're away— here they come— the first fence, and he's head over heels for a crown ! Good for the new chum— he's over ! and two of the others are down I Now for the treble, my. hearty— by Jove ! he can ride after all ; Whoop, that's your sort— let him fly them 1 He hasn't much fear of a fall. Who in the woi Id would have thought it? And aron't they just going a pace ! Little Recruit iv the lead there will make it a , stoutly-run race. Lord ! Butthey'ie racing in earnest — and down jjoes Recruit on his head, Rolling clean over his boy— ifs a miracle if he ain't dead. ** Batileaxe, Battleaxe yet 1 By the Lord, he's got most of '<.m beat— Ho! did you see how he otruck, and the swell never moved in hia seat 1 Second lime round, and, by Jingo) he's holding bis lead of 'em well ; IJark to him clouting the timber ! It dou't seem _ to trouble the swell. Wow foi the wall — let him rush it. A 30ft leap, I declaip— Never a shift in his seat, and he's racing for home like a hare. "What's that that's chasing him ? Rataplan—regular demon to stay ! Sit down and ride for your life now 1 Oh, good, that's the style — come away ! Rataplan's certain to beat you unless you can give him the slip. Sit down and rub in the whalebone now— give him the spurs and the whip ! Bat tit axe, Battleaxe ~ yet ! — and it's Battleaxe wins for a crown ! Look at him rushing the fences, he wants to bring t'other chap down, llataplau uever will catch him if only he keeps on his pins ; Now ! the last fence ! and he's over it ! Battleaxe, Battleaxe wins !