268 TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS 



less for any other ? These ignorant trainers were even 

 satisfied with trying their horses with the lads who 

 usually rode them in their everyday work. This Sir 

 Joseph Hawley did, and a few others. Indeed, in the 

 present day a few trainers still adhere to the obsolete 

 practice. 



In most things, so especially in the race for wealth or 

 money-making, the modern jockey has outstripped every 

 other horseman, and effectually left owner and trainer 

 behind him. He is the modern Croesus, but a Croesus 

 generous and liberal. I do not say that this liberality is 

 exercised in the distribution of that wealth, but in the 

 distribution of knowledge, which is better, for it enables 

 him to add greatly to his own fortunes. For valuable 

 advice given in this way they are continually being 

 presented with munificent sums, as witness the generous 

 deeds of the American Walton, the renowned and 

 amiable Theodore! Some owners, I am told, rather 

 object to this dissemination of useful knowledge. They 

 go so far as to say that it interferes with the state of the 

 odds ! But as these complaints take the form of careless 

 indirect comment, and not a face-to-face accusation, we 

 may take it that the jockeys are in the right, and that 

 owners are really fond of seeing their horses favourites, 

 and tacitly admit their pleasure at the fact that it should 

 benefit everyone else, and not themselves. 



In this matter of silent complaint, I am reminded of a 

 story to the effect that whilst two incorrigible desperadoes 

 were awaiting their trial in prison for a petty larceny, 

 they agreed to assist each other with mutual information. 

 The first man, Jones, on his trial, abused with the most 

 filthy epithets the judge and jury and the members of 

 the bar, and was honourably acquitted, and hastened to 

 give Brown (his companion) the benefit of his experience. 



