266 TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS 



covery is entirely due to the intelligence of our jockeys. 

 Nine o'clock, or a little after, is in all conscience early 

 enough to exercise any horse, and before that hour or in 

 wet weather they will not ride for anyone ; though, in 

 strict justice to the trainer, it may with equal truth be 

 avowed that at least one has set his face against the evil 

 practice, as the lameness of so many of his horses was 

 ascribed to rheumatic affections arising from damp and 

 cold, more than from any other cause whatever. This 

 trainer won the Derby after the change more than once ; 

 but never before. But ' who can control his fate ?' For 

 soon after we find he had to succumb, manfully fighting 

 the battle in the cause he so ardently espoused ; though 

 for the sake of science it should be said that the new 

 custom, so happily introduced under such favourable 

 auspices, had really nothing whatever to do with the 

 lamentable event, and is still carried on successfully by 

 the rest of the wily craft. 



Jockeys used to ride at early exercise, and each trainer 

 had one who rode for the stables, and this used to com- 

 plete the day's work. But to-day they have to ride 

 horses for many trainers the same day, at exercise, and 

 for many days consecutively, before a great race takes 

 place : and now these are very frequent. This, by the good- 

 nature of the trainer, they are easily able to accomplish, 

 by not galloping the horses until it is quite convenient 

 for the jockeys to attend. It makes a little difference to 

 stable arrangements; but this, in comparison with having 

 the jockey's services, is as nothing. By this system, 

 knowledge is gained that it would be absolutely impos- 

 sible to obtain so effectually in any other way. The 

 advantage thus obtained for the benefit of the jockey and 

 trainer is, and must be admitted to be, great. The 

 jockey, to begin with, knows the form of nearly all the 



