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JOCKEY GOATER AND LORD PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTHThe The late James Goater used to tell a most amus ¬ ing incident that occurred to him on the lirst occa ¬ sion of his wearing Lord Portsmouths colors Very many years ago at Oxford races Ixird Portsmouths trainer went to Goater and asked him if he was en ¬ gaged for the mt race as If not he would like him to ride one of his lordships Jem who had not a mount gladly accepted the offer weighed out and ultimately won after a grand display of joekoyship on his part Some little time afterwards whilst Goater was talking to a friend Lord Ports ¬ mouth came up to him and said Goater you rode an excellent race and I am much pleased pleasedJem Jem who did not know his lordship by sight considering it a great impertinence for a most shabbily dressed man it was one of Lord Ps peculiarities to wear old and wornout clothes 1o interrupt him curtly replied Oh yes glad you think so and resumed his conversation to the great horror of his friend who knowing Lord Portsmouth was simply diimfoiinded and frantic ¬ ally endeavored by facial signs to make Goater attend to him which Jem did not understand Con ¬ tinuing Lord Portsmouth said I must make you a present Gouter for winning Jem scarcely turning towards him answered Never mind old chap ItHis gtad you won a bit on It His lordship who by then had quite grasped the situation walked away exploding with laughter whereupon Gouters friend Immediately exclaimed You himselfGoater fool thats Lord Portsmouth himself Goater when telling this always wound up br saying I didnt want a Turkish bath to make me sweat then thenHow How Goater rode for Lord Portsmouth us long as lie owned race horses and what an attachment existed between muster and servant henceforth until the grim king claimed them both is a matter of history historyApropos Apropos of Goater and Lord Portsmouth it was on the occasion of riding that noblemans grain horse liuccancer for the Koyal Hunt Cup in 18 1 that the Admiral made his maiden bow with the start ¬ ers flag and a nice mess lie made of it There had been a lot of complaints just before this time as to the way the starting had been conducted and Admiral Itous in his characteristic manner said Ill start em myself and make these jockey I oys mind their pg and qs It vas scarcely wise under any circumstances to commence on a field of thirtythree runners the number In Buccaneers year but boiling over with wrath and indigna ¬ tion down strode the gallant old salt to the start ¬ ing post flag in hand thinking that Ills appearance alone in the position of starter would strike terror and dismay into the hearts of the hitherto unruly jockeys So far from this being the case however he absolutely had not the slightest control over them and such a scene as that which ensued was probably never before witnessed at u starting post Goater was determined not to get left and in answer ofYou to tho Admirals gruff remark of You at least know better Goater said Beg pardon Admiral but I am afraid of getting too near those boys for fear of getting my horse kicked kickedThis This of course was Jems kid At last after an hours delay and when if possible the animals were in worse positions to be started than they hud been at any time previously Admiral Rons livid with rage threw down the lag shouting at the same time at the top of his naturally strong and rough voice Go and be damned to yon Goater got a flying start and being on a very speedy horse and a quick beginner rapidly added to it and was practically never headed winning in a canter witli the big weight of 11 pounds This was Admiral lions first and last attempt at start ¬ ing Thormanby In London Sportsman
