52 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



walk, * Well, old boy,' said he, ' I have heard that 

 niusic cheers the weary soldier ; why should it not 

 enliven the wasting jockey? Come, play a tune, 

 and walk before me to Newmarket.' ^ 



The Chifneys were also renowned riders, though 

 the scandal attaching to the Running Rein business 

 (which will be hereafter spoken of) somewhat tar- 

 nished the lustre of the name. But, without doubt, 

 the Chifneys, father and son, were splendid riders, 

 as is shown by the following opinion of one who was 

 no mean judge : 



' The late Samuel Chifney presented the hea'u, 

 ideal of a jockey — elegance of seat, perfection of 

 hand, judgment of pace all united, and power in his 

 saddle beyond any man of his weight that yet sat 

 in one. It is scarcely necessary to add that he was 

 son of a celebrated jockey of the same name, con- 

 sequently well bred to his profession. Chifney's 

 method of finishing a race was the general theme of 

 admiration on the Turf. " Suppose," says he, "a man 

 has been carrying a stone too heavy to be pleasant 

 in one hand, would he not find much ease by shift- 

 ing it into the other? Thus, after a jockey has been 

 riding over his horse's fore-legs for a couple of miles, 

 must it not be a great relief to him Avhen he sits 

 back in his saddle, and, as it were, divides the 

 weight more equally ? But caution is required," he 



* Nimrod, The, Chase, the Turf, and the T.oid, 



