y meeting it was too. It was a huge picnic,
winding up with dinner and theatre parties, dances, and good old suppers.
I had nothing good enough to win any race. Buckland was a sure jumper,
but not fast enough. Satan's foreleg would not stand training. However,
one never knows one's luck in steeplechasing, so I sent Buckland to
Leslie Macdonald to be trained, and promised myself a real ding-dong
jumping day over the big sticks at Morphetville--and I had it, too. The
two principal races were the Drag Cup and the Hunt Club Cup--the former
about two miles and three-quarters, the latter about four miles. A maiden
steeple, a hurdle race and a hunters' flat race filling up the programme.
The best horse at the meeting that year was named Albatross, a jet black,
curiously enough, and the property of a good sport, Mick Morris, a
Government stock inspector. Albatross had been heavily backed to win the
double, the Drag and Hunt Club Cups. I think it was Bob Turner who rode
him in the Hunt Club Cup. He had bad luck opposite the grand stand, for
he struck the wall hard the second time round and unseated Bob. The race
was over as far as Albatross was concerned, and so were the double wagers
as far as Mick Morris and his friends were concerned. But Mick and his
pals meant to get their money again by backing Albatross straight out for
the Drag Cup. Bob Turner had been badly shaken by his fall, and was
unable to ride again. Morris asked me to ride him. I had already ridden
old Buckland in the Maiden Steeple and Hunt Club Cups some six miles,
without being near winning, so I thought I would oblige Morris.

Unfortunately, Albatross being top-weight had a heavy impost to carry,
some 13 st. 4 lb. I rode only about 11 st. 6 lb. in those days, so I had
to put up some two stones dead weight. The saddle was a heavy,
old-fashioned hunting one, and taking it for granted all was well I
jumped on Albatross's back in the saddling paddock and jogged quietly
down to the starting point. There were some eight starters. Down went the
flag, away we went, and I took Albatross to the front. He was a fine
jumper, but he had one fault; he was inclined to run down his fences, and
squirm a little when jumping. We went once round the course. We were
coming to the wall for the second time just in front of the grand stand
and Albatross was moving like a bird. I let him just "gang his ain gait";
nothing behind me could force the pace. He led the field easily, and I
f