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1 fl fjj u « i "1 O f vi j . " v b y W 1 k d T « I I E • w j •T 1 - • a a r n t — - ■ — - v a lr . " — __ * ,n r o. l 1 T r j la | . " _ J _ — ■ — 1 S t- I i ix | , b" j e — J_ ; er — — — j by by . | c. c by bv Je ■_ — us ke ■ c i— — n" „t, ige Miss 1SS "SPEEDY" PAYNES VICTORY , « Henry Custance Relates How the Rider Outwitted Starter. ♦ Speaks Ills Mind When failed Before Stewards and Saves Awkward Situalion — Amusing Kpisode of Jockey Norman. ♦ Henry Custance in his "Ridins Reeollec-. tions and Turf Stories" relates the following concerning a rider of his day known aa "Speedy" Payne. Says the writer : "Many tales are told of that eccentric person Speedy Payne, who used to ride for Mr. Stevens, with whom he lived for years. One, indeed, I can vouch for myself. Speedy was riding a horse named Cranberry, at Bath, a nasty-tempered animal. It was a half-mile race and there were fifteen or sixteen runners. "We had several false starts, and Cran-l. berry was the principal transgressor, as he went as far as the distance each time. Speedy dismounted and led him back, after delaying the start more than half an hour. Tom Mcdeorge at last said to us. Cet ready; shall not wait any longer for this brute. But he couldnt start us. as the horse was walking down the middle of the course. At leusjth we were all ready, and when Payne was within five or six lengths McGeorge told him to get on one side and dropped the flag. As McCeorge was in the act of so doing Speedy vaulted into the saddle like circus rider, without his feet in the stir-e rup irons. With two lengths start he was never caught and I need hardly tell you won the race. It was a near thing, whether he was on the right sida of the pest or not when he started, but everybody was so much amused that no one thought of objecting. AI.LKD IJKFORK STEWARDS. "On another occasion Speedy was riding a horse named Peignor at Brighton, belonging to his master. Mr. Stevens. The horse was beaten, but some of the public and th« stewards were not Quite satisfied about the way he wa.s ridden. About ten minutes after the race Payne was sent for out of the jockeys room to go before the stewards, who were the Duke of Beau ford. Lord Falmouth and Ad- miral Rous. I shall never forget Speedys-face when he removed a quid of tobacco from his mouth and straightened his curly hair, and said: T will give these people something. "We were all waiting anxiously to hear the result of the interview, when back came Speedy. On inquiry we fourtd the fallowing conversation had taken plaee: They says to me : "Can you explain your riding the horso Peignor in the hist race?" I turns around and says: "My lords, dukes and admirals, all I says is, when I wins a race, they says nothing; when I loses a race, they says I pulls. I simply arx you gentlemen if you was a horse dead beat, would you like your insides whipped out." "Whether or not this eccentric answer caused the stewards to dismiss the case, [ cant say. but I know it caused a great amount of amusement among the gentlemen and racing public, and nothing more was said about it at the time. TOI.D OF JOCKEY OIlMAN "Jockey Norman, or Post-boy. as he was familiarly called, was an old-fashioned chap, atid was quite an oddity in his way. I believe he began life as a pest-boy at Burghley. the seat of the Marquis of Exeter, near Stamfcrd. but afterward went to Harlocks stables at Newmarket. He did well and started riding for Lord Fxeter and afterward became his first Jockey. Norman rode Stockwell in the Two Thousand Cuincas. the Epsom Derby and the St. Leper, winning the lirst and last, "The following year. 1S5:;. he went to stay at Burghley House for the Stamford meeting, Having won such races in the popular light blue and white stripes the year before, he was made a great fuss of, and he dined in the housekeepers room. After dinner the latter said to him : " "Mr. Norman, would you like to take a little dessert? Norman, who had not been used to such luxuries, but was one of the finest trenchermen I ever saw. said: " T thank you. mum. I dont mind if I do. if you will fetch on that beef-steak pudding again. "H« never heard the last of this remark of his and used to enjoy the joke as SSBCh as ., anyone. a
