FAMOUS JOCKEYS 47 



account for his prowess in tlie pigskin — and began 

 his career in the Honourable Richard Vernon's 

 stables at a very early age. He rode the winners of 

 five Derby, seven Oaks, and two St. Leger Stakes, 

 besides, to use his own words, ' most of the good 

 things at Newmarket.' But it was in 1802 that he 

 so greatly distinguished himself at Epsom by taking 

 long odds that he won both Derby and Oaks on 

 what were considered very unlikely horses to win 

 either. His Derby horse was the Duke of Grafton's 

 Tyrant, with seven to one against him, beating Mr. 

 Wilson's Young Eclipse, considered the best horse of 

 his year. Young Eclipse made the play, and was 

 opposed by Sir C. Bunbury's Orlando, who contested 

 every inch of ground for the first mile. From 

 Buckle's fine judgment of pace he was convinced 

 they must both stop ; so following and watching 

 them with Tyrant, he came up and won, to the sur- 

 prise of all who saw him, witli one of the worst horses 

 that ever ivon a Derby, Buckle, having made one 

 of his two events safe, had then a fancy that Mr. 

 Wastell's Scotia could win the Oaks if he were on 

 her back, and he got permission to ride her. 8he 

 tvas beaten three times between Tattenham Corner and 

 home; but he got her up again in front, and won 

 the race by a head. The Newmarket people declared 

 they had never seen a race before snatched out of 

 the fire, as it were, by fine riding. 



Buckle's weight was favourable, being seldom 



