270 TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS 



would do her good.' This explanation the trainer 

 accepts, though he can hardly bring his mind in a 

 moment calmly to believe in facts so important. Infor- 

 mation so intrinsically astounding, however, is not to be 

 lost sight of, and the jockey's promises of a similar 

 favour on the next and succeeding days are readily 

 welcomed. For without such aid, in what sort of 

 condition may we expect to see horses sent to the post ? 

 It once did very well, perhaps, for the trainer to rely a 

 little on his own judgment in running long races ; but, 

 seeing he is outstripped by the march of intellect, he 

 to-day wisely and tacitly accepts the proffered assistance 

 of his own or anybody's jockey, or indeed of anyone, and 

 by the friendly aid of owners and their respected friends, 

 he succeeds. 



The skill of our modern artists in riding is, with few 

 exceptions, every day more and more conspicuous in 

 winning with a horse that apparently has no chance of 

 contending successfully with many of the others he is 

 engaged against ; and, in turn, by the same delicate 

 handling, the vanquished is proclaimed the victor, to the 

 astonishment of all concerned in the wonderful trans; 

 formation scene, and the delight of the bystanders and 

 bookmakers. Nothing in ancient history is recorded of 

 such surprising and truly wonderful feats of horseman- 

 ship, nor could Witticombe himself at Astley's have pro- 

 duced anything so marvellously effective. Formerly 

 that is to say, in Mr. Chifney's time horses were trained 

 on the severe sweating system, and ridden with loose 

 reins and severely punished, lest the jockeys should be 

 accused of not trying to win. Now we see horseman- 

 ship in a state nearer perfection than it was ever wit- 

 nessed before. In a long race the jockey, by the exercise 

 of patient calculation, will allow his field to get a quarter 



