410 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



not to bet upon him ; and yet I thought 

 Escape might vvin without being quite well to 

 run ; therefore, if I made any complaint about 

 Escape's condition, and he should afterwards 

 win, I thought I should be represented by 

 some as mischievous. Those thoughts were 

 what made me so slow in trying to break my 

 opinion to His Royal Highness, that 1 was 

 doubtful about Escape not being (it to run ; 

 under these impressions, 1 wished to be well 

 timed in acquainting His Royal Highness with 

 my doubts about Escape's fitness to run. 

 Then His Royal Highness turned so very short 

 upon me at the time I was going to make 

 known my opinion ; I became fearful that he 

 was tired of hearing me ; being conscious that 

 1 had been very often troublesome on the like 

 occasions ; that I immediately became so very 

 much vexed, that the strength of ray limbs 

 went from me in so extraordinary a manner, I 

 never felt anything equal to it before. I 

 thought it my duty to offer my opinion to the 

 Prince, and I was trained to it from being 

 questioned upon the same. 



After there had been a race or two over, 

 His Royal Highness was in the carriage with 

 Lord Barrymore, standing near the lower end 

 of the rails, by the turn of the lands ; and I 

 was on horseback, standing at a small distance 

 from the carriage, when His Royal Highness 

 called to me, and asked me if Escape's race 

 was coming next? I answered, "Yes, your 

 Royal Highness." His Royal Highness said, 

 " Come this way, Sam Chifney, I will give 

 you your orders how to ride Escape." I 

 immediately got up to the side of the carriage, 

 and His Royal Highness said, " Sam Chifney, 

 I wish you to make very strong play with 

 Escape ;" then made a pause, as I thought, 

 for me to make answer : I did not make 



answer. His Royal Highness then said, 

 " Sam Chifney, 1 am never afraid when tiiat 

 1 am giving South and you orders, for I know 

 you are both too good jockeys to over-mark 

 your horse; but nou' I will not compel you to 

 make play w ith Escape ; providing there 

 should be good play made by any other 

 Horse, you may wait with Escape ; but 

 should there be no other Horse make such as 

 you think good play, you must take care to 

 make good play with Escape. I hope, Sam 

 Chifney, you perfectly understand." I said, 

 " Yes, your Royal Highness, I perfectly under- 

 stand." His Royal Highness then ordered the 

 carriage to drive to the betting-post. 



Mr. W. Lake had been standing with his 

 Horse in liis hand, near to the carriage, but 

 on the other side of the rails, whilst His Royal 

 Highness was giving me my orders how to 

 ride Escape. 



Directly the carriage was gone, I vvas then 

 passing near to Mr. W. Lake : he said, " Well, 

 Chifney, has the Prince given you orders how 

 to ride Escape?" I said, "Yes, Sir." Mr. 

 W. Lake said, " What are your orders ?" I 

 told Mr. Lake that His Royal Highness wished 

 me to make very strong play with Escape ; 

 but after. His Royal Highness gave me leave 

 to wait with Escape, providing there should 

 be any other Horse make good play ; but 

 should there be no other Horse make such as 

 I thought good play, that I must take care to 

 make good play with Escape. 



Mr. W. Lake then asked me if 1 thought 

 that the best way for Escape to lun ? I replied, 

 "No, Sir; if I had my life depending upon 

 Escape's winning to-day, I should wish Es- 

 cape to wait by all means ; but as His Royal 

 Highness told me he should not bet upon him 

 and as I am so often contradicting my orders, 



