If you had asked me years ago whether I was superstitious I should probably have laughed and answered "No." But if you asked me that question to-day I am not quite sure what sort of an answer I would give you.
I wil tell you why. When' the 1820 Derby won by Spion Kop was approaching I was free to ride any horse I chose because my own stable Bat nothing for me to ride. I had decided on the horse I fancied, and when I found that circumstances did not enable me to ride him I decided that I would not ride at all.
I knew my following at Epsom and that there were little punters all over the country who would back my mount for some small sum. I hated the thought of causing them to lose their money simply because of their faith in me, so I made up my mind to watch the race from the stands.
On the Monday of Derby Week, late in the evening, I received a telephone call from Mrs. Freddie Fox, the warm-hearted, kindly wife of my friend and r jockey, Freddie Fox. She seemed a little distressed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.