THE TURF ^ 57 



they should come to Newmarket for a seat. 

 It is true they do not appear to such 

 advantage in the saddle as their brethren of 

 the south, nor, speaking generally, are they 

 equal to them in their calling; but many 

 very excellent jockeys have always been 

 to be found in the north. At the head of 

 these now alive is the noted Billy Pierse, 

 who used to ride Haphazard for the Duke 

 of Cleveland. Having feathered his nest 

 well, he has retired, but is remarkable for 

 the hospitality of his house, situated in the 

 town of Richmond. Robert Johnson is 

 likewise one of the oldest, best, and we 

 may add, most successful of the northern 

 jockeys, having ridden Doctor Syntax 

 throughout his glorious career, and been 

 four times winner of the St. Leger stakes ; 

 but John Jackson eclipsed him, having 

 experienced that honour no less than as 

 often again a circumstance unparalleled 

 among jockeys; and he very nearly won 

 it a ninth time, on Blacklock. Johnson 

 trained and rode Galopade for Mr. Riddell, 

 the winner of the Doncaster cup. John 

 Shepherd, an old jockey, is still alive, keep- 

 ing a public-house at Malton. Shepherd 



