168 THE POST AND THE PADDOCK. 



After 1834, Sam ceased to go North altogether, 

 and what little riding he had from that date, was 

 confined to Newmarket, Ascot, and Epsom. He 

 whipped-in for the Derby on Lord Chesterfield's 

 Critic in 1837, and never got off at all on Mr. 

 Payne's Young Rowton, out of Emiliana, for the 

 same stake in the following year. The jockeys were 

 so unprepared for the actual start, that several of 

 them half-stopped their horses, feeling sure that it 

 would not be one ; and Sam actually had his ches- 

 nut's head turned the contrary way at the moment 

 the ill-timed signal was given. St. Francis (Pettit) 

 was in the same predicament, and oddly enough, it 

 is in connection with his magnificent riding of this 

 companion in trouble, that many of our more modern 

 turfites date their Sam Chifney recollections. He 

 was a little strong horse by St. Patrick, and perhaps 

 one of the most shifty and idle animals that a jockey 

 ever crossed. "Lazy Lanercost" was a piece of 

 quicksilver compared to him. Robinson and Chifney 

 both agreed that in all their experience they had 

 never met with one that was half so difficult to ride; 

 and both were generally quite exhausted when they 

 weighed in. A more varmint-looking pair never 

 paraded before the Ascot Grand Stand than Sam on 

 the Saint, who whisked his long switch tail about in 

 not the pleasantest of moods, when he felt that his 

 plain snaffle was in hands which would brook no 

 nonsense. The horse belonged to Mr. Gurney, who 

 was an especial friend, and trained with Mr. Thorn- 

 hill at Pettit's ; and it was by the wish of the latter 

 that Sam was " put up" in several of his races. 



The Ascot Cup of 1840 was his leading victory ; 

 but the severest task was the riding him for a 100 

 D.I. Plate in one of the Houghton Meetings. On 

 this occasion Robinson beckoned to Butler, as he 

 met him cantering on his hack towards the cords, 

 and said, " Come back with me, and I'll show you a 



