1773 FIRST PERIOD : CONCLUDED 167 



but it is just as likely that he was the keeper of ' Deard's 

 Coffee-house ' at Newmarket, enlisted for the occasion. 

 Anyhow, the first recorded regular judge at New- 

 market (though he may have been really the second, 

 successor of Mr. Deard) was Mr. John Hilton (ap- 

 pointed about 1772, died 1806), whose office was in 

 time extended to Epsom, Brocket Hall, Bibury, and 

 probably to other meetings ; and he was succeeded 

 by the dynasty of John Clark (grandfather, father, 

 and son), lasting down to the recent accession of Mr. 

 Robinson. About the same time other regular officials 

 were appointed, whose names have been handed down, 

 as, for instance, 'John Hammond, weigher of jockeys' 

 (otherwise, ' Clerk of the Scales '), and * Samuel Betts, 

 starter of horses,' &c. How such offices have grown 

 in dignity and emolument may be inferred from the 

 fact that nowadays a live lord or other aristocrat does 

 not disdain to discharge the arduous duties (which is 

 one thing) and draw the salary (which is another) of 

 a professional starter. It only remains for a Prince 

 of the Blood to advertise himself as a public trainer, 

 and horse-racing will have attained its apogee (though 

 not much custom may come to the Prince of the 

 Blood from owners who know what they are about). 



