46 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



At that time Mr. Rhodes was the clerk of the course, 

 the starter, and the judge, and wore a very large and 

 conspicuous bushj wig. Buckle, who was about to 

 ride one of Colonel Mellish's horses, was behind time 

 at the post, and kept the competitors, as well as the 

 starter, waiting. On Buckle coming up mounted, 

 Mr. Rhodes said, " Come, come ; you're behind time 

 again. This may do at Newmarket, Mr. Buckle, 

 but it won't do at York ! " Buckle, eyeing his wig, 

 replied, " I say, old un, what do you ask for the wig ? 

 I've a bull-bitch at home about to pup — just the 

 thing for her ! " " Go ! " said the starter, and off 

 the horses rushed. Buckle was last, and turning his 

 head, repeated, " What do you ask for the wig ? " 

 amid the laughter of the spectators and the chagrin 

 of Rhodes, who proceeded to the judge's box. Buckle 

 had the race in hand, and won it in fine stjde. As 

 he was passing the post a winner, Buckle turned his 

 head aside and repeated, " What do 3^ou ask for the 

 wig, old un ? " Rhodes never heard the last of this 

 — it became a by -word in the streets.' ^ 



But it is time to turn to some of the most famous 

 jockeys, whose sayings and doings deserve to be 

 rescued from oblivion ; and first we will take the 

 jockey just referred to, Francis Buckle. 



This celebrated and accomplished horseman was 

 the son of a saddler at Newmarket — which may 



* Turf Characters, by Martingale. 



