1891 A BRIEF REVIEW 837 



when some exterior pressure is brought to bear, that 

 has always characterised the Club, and brought under 

 a sort of jealous suspicion the authority which it has 

 so excellent a right to claim and exercise. 



From 1879 to 1884 the Club was chiefly employed 

 in devising means for the suppression of the evils 

 which arise from the existence of jockeys who not 

 only bet, and bet to an extravagant extent, but are 

 owners or in part owners (as well as trainers) of race- 

 horses ; but though elaborate measures (including 

 the licensing of jockeys, and the securing of the fees 

 due to them, as far as possible, so that they should 

 no longer have their old excuse for betting) were 

 passed and still remain in force, it is extremely 

 doubtful whether the impracticable object has been 

 so much as approached within measurable distance. 

 Impracticable, so long as jockeys are human, with 

 eyes to see the example set them by their employers, 

 with ears to hear the suggestions of the tempter 

 (whether brother-jockey, trainer, bookmaker, or 

 another), and with wits to understand how to shift 

 their own personality beyond all reasonable chance of 

 identification. 



In 1885 the successes of Plaisanterie in the 

 Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire led to the passing 

 of a rule which, known to the French as * la proposi- 

 tion Craven ' (Mr. W. G. Craven's), was intended, it 

 is supposed, to make things hard for French candi- 

 dates in the future ; but which, according to the 



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