42 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



CHAPTER Y. 



FAMOUS JOCKEYS. 



A GOOD horse, if lie is to figure to advantage, 

 must have a good rider ; and what is more, the 

 quadiniped knows perfectly well the quality of the 

 biped on his back. In the hands of an unskilful 

 jockey the best horse that ever trod turf may fail to 

 hold his own even in the company of second-raters, 

 if the latter have the advantage of being piloted 

 by clever horsemen. And the qualities which go to 

 the making of a first-rate jockey are far rarer than 

 most people imagine. He must not only be possessed 

 of great nerve and coolness — he must have a firm 

 and graceful seat, fine hands, and above all must be 

 a good judge of pace, able to calculate whether the 

 horse he is riding can last the distance, up to what 

 stage he will have to be nursed, and when to make 

 the final effort. He must exercise his wits as well 

 as his limbs. Besides, his duties are attended with 

 considerable danger : his life and limbs are con- 

 stantly in jeopardy, and the wasting process to 

 which he must perpetually submit is not calculated 



