RACING OFFICIALS. 73 



the absentees. Conceive, then, the puzzled dismay of some 

 local magnate, who has for the first time in his life had great- 

 ness on a racecourse thrust upon him, at being presented by 

 an irate ' little man' owner or trainer with a written manifesto, 

 not unaccompanied by ornate verbal exposition, of the ruinous 

 wrong he has suffered by the handicapper's too exalted es- 

 timate of the powers of some thrice-pulled crock. Think, too, 

 of the disgust of the Stewards of the Jockey Club if, in his 

 anxiety to escape from immediate pressure, the bewildered 

 provincial sent up such a case for their serious consideration. 1 



Unfortunately, however, for the much-abused employes, the 

 written protest is, as we have said, rarely resorted to ; hot, 

 hasty, and too often unjust denunciation is showered upon 

 them, and then as time presses, and business must be attended 

 to, the denouncer forgets all about it and expects them to 

 forget too. 



If this rule were insisted on, and all complaints formulated 

 in writing, what a wondrous collection of scribble, on leaves of 

 betting-books and backs of race-cards, would be in the hands 

 of the stewards at the end of each meeting ! The fragmentary 

 MS. of the late Teufelsdrockh, with which the author of 

 ' Sartor Resartus ' had to deal, would be a joke to it. 



As guerdon for their services, the stewards have free access 

 to all stands and enclosures at the meeting over which they 

 preside, but the privilege does not seem to have the effect of 

 insuring a greater regularity of attendance. 



A most desirable change in this respect might be brought 

 about, if gentlemen would resolutely decline to allow their 

 names to be published as stewards, except for meetings at 

 which they have a reasonable prospect of being present. 



1 Since these lines were written the Stewards of the Jockey Club have 

 issued a notice, that a complaint against any official made otherwise than in 

 writing to the stewards of the meeting will subject the complainant to a fine, 

 which will also be inflicted in the event of the complaint being adjudged as 

 frivolous. A very interesting and voluminous correspondence is anticipated. 



