HISTORY OF THE JOCKEY CLUB. 59 



years, but is of course in receipt of a full pension. The habits 

 of a man who has attained the age of ninety-three are always 

 noteworthy, so it may be recorded that Jackson was no teetotaller 

 though never the worse for liquor when on duty, and he was 

 always fond of his pipe. One of the most curious facts in con- 

 nection with him is, that though for a great part of his life he 

 was nearly if not quite stone-deaf, he can now hear very fairly 

 well. 



By the above-mentioned acquisition of Waterhall Farm, 

 also rented from Mr. Tharp, a straight gallop of two miles has 

 been obtained which has superseded the old semicircular course 

 of the same distance. Finally, since 1882, the new winter 

 ground has been made with one of the finest tan gallops in the 

 world. 



In 1882 the Exning Estate, conterminous to 'The Flat' in 

 nearly its whole length, came into the market. The Jockey 

 Club was forced to buy, lest building speculators should erect 

 houses overlooking the Heath, and this last outlay has doubtless 

 been a heavy drain on the Club resources, involving as it did a 

 mortgage of the whole property, though under able manage- 

 ment it may turn out a profitable investment, as the far side of 

 the estate adjoining the rapidly increasing town of Newmarket, 

 and the village of Exning, will be in demand for building 

 purposes, while all the land can if necessary be laid down by 

 degrees, and thus be made available for gallops. 



As a proof that the demand here alluded to actually exists 

 may be cited the fact that, in addition to many purchases by 

 trainers and others on the Newmarket side, Captain E. W. 

 Baird in 1891 bought Exning House — which had up to that 

 time been rented by Lord Cardross— and 303 acres of land with 

 it. The whole of Southfield Farm, formerly rented by Mr. 

 Robinson, the present racing judge, has been taken into hand 

 by the Jockey Club. 



