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LORD MINTOS .RIDING EXPERIENCES. Perhaps few sportsmen who have heard of Lord Minto ever knew that the ex-Governor-general of Canada and the ex-Viceroy of India was once a crack cross-country jockey and sported silk under the name or Mr. Roley. Aery often men of big political prominence never care to admit that they had much of the sport in them in their younger Mays. It Is not so with Lord. Minto, for in an -interesting Speech, before the Calcutta Turf Club before lie left India he told some, funny things about himself. The last paragraphs of his speech he devoted to a touching allusion of George Ede, who rode as "Mr. Edwards" and who won the Grand National on The Lamb in 1SG8. The speech was printed verbatiiri.in the Asian and is as follows: "I cannot tell you, gentlemen, how touched I am I can find no other expression by your Invitation to this great gathering. I cannot but feel that It is your welcome and your farewell to a fellow sportsman that I am not here tonight as Viceroy, soldier or statesman but, may I say so, as the Mr. Roley of old days, or Mr. Roily, as the ring would persist in calling him. Well, gentlemen, Mr. Roley saw in his time many races, many race courses and many stewards, whom no doubt lie held in proper awe and respect as a poor G. R: is bouud to do, but he cau honestly say that he never saw racing conducted on sounder Hues or with anything like the comfort provided for race goers by the members of the Calcutta Turf Club. 1 wish it had been in my power to do more in their support. "There is nothing I should have liked better than to have run a good horse in the Aiceroys cup, but I have long lost touch witli the racing world at home, and you, gentlemen, will realize how difficult it is for a stranger just out from England to step Into racing circles in another country and pick up all the threads of that knowledge of form which leads 10 success, particularly when that stranger is provided with not a few other things to think about. I as sure you Mr. Roily in his other capacity has during the last few years often found himself so weighed down with work that he has only been able to run up to the course in time to see the horses saddling for the last race of the day. "I do not regret my racing days, gentlemen. Arery far from it. 1 learned a great deal from them which lias been useful to me in later life. 1 mixed with all classes or men. 1 believe I got much insight into human character. You may think it strange, but I never used to bet, though I was on intimate terms witli the ring and as far as riding went I became absolutely callous to public opinion if I won there was often no name good enough for me, and when I got beat on the favorite it was Mr. Roily, of course, who threw the race away. "But talking of a jockeyjs popularity, I must tell you a story which I am sure will appeal to the heart of G. R.s and teach them not to be over sanguine even on the best of mounts. I was once riding in the big steeplechase at Croydon, which in those dnva was second only to the Grand National in import ance. I had won several races on the horse 1 was riding and we thought if he did well at Croydon h-? ought to have a chance Tor the Liverpool and lie was heavily backed but he was an uncertain horse; one could never quite depend on his trying. However, the money was piled on and it was consider-d that If he was going well af the brook opposite the stand the second time around he could be relied upon, and if I thought it all right I was to make a signal on jumping the water and further sums were to be dashed down in the ring. AVell, the horse was going splendidly, raced up to the brook, jumped it magnificently couldnt have lteen running better. I made the signal and on went the mum y, but after the brook we had to turn awav from the crowd and he put his ears back and never tried another yard never went into Ids bridle again. I as not popular that time when I rode back to weigh in. "Well, gentlemen, I learned to keep mv head, to sit still, to watch what other jockevs were doln" and to be a good judge of pace. The orders I liked best were Get off well and Wait in front "I suppose no one here is old enough to remember poor George Ede. who rode under the name of Mr. Edwards. one of the finest horsemen the world hax ever produced. He won the Grand National on Tin Lamb and was afterward killed riding a horse called Chippenham in the Sefton Handicap at Liverpool and a poem dedicated to him was published in Bailvs Magazine. If you will allow me I will quote two verses, if I can remember them to mv mind thev are very fine lines typical of what a really fine rider should lie: "A horsemans gifts, the perfect hand - And gracerul seat of confidence, The head to reckon and command When danger stills the cowards sense. The nerve unshaken by mischance, The care .unlessened by success. And modest bearing to enhance The natural charm of manliness. "Gentlemen, you have surrounded me with the whole atmosphere again and have got me to talk racing. You have brought back to me happv old memories and stories which I could go on tellln" bv the hour; and seriously, gentlemen, the lesson of the turf need not be thrown awav in after life Th- !lm-fLto iLorf-u K,1e and the old racing Instruction Wait in front mean much in this worlds stni"-les dont force the pace, lie up witli vour field, keep a winning place, watch your opportunity and whei tli moment conies go on and win."
