THE TURF 41 



race, he must have the abstinence of an 

 Asiatic ; indeed, it too often happens that 

 at meals he can only be a spectator we 

 mean during the period of his wasting. 

 To sum up all he has to work hard, and 

 to deprive himself of every comfort, risking 

 his neck into the bargain ; and for what ? 

 Why, for five guineas if he wins, and three 

 if he loses a race, although they occasionally 

 receive handsome presents from the owners 

 of winning horses. The famous Pratt, the 

 jockey of the no less famous little Gimcrack 

 (of whom, man and horse, there is a fine 

 portrait by Stubbs), rode eleven races over 

 the Beacon course in one day ; making, with 

 returning to the post on his hack, a distance 

 of eighty-eight miles in his saddle : yet what 

 was this when compared with theOsbaldeston 

 feat? 



Of course we must go to Newmarket for 

 the elite of this fraternity ; and this reminds 

 us that Francis Buckle is not there. He is 

 in his grave ; but he has left behind him 

 not merely an example for all young jockeys 

 to follow, but proof that honesty is the best 

 policy ; for he died in the esteem of all the 

 racing world, and in the possession of a 



