CHAPTER VII 



TOM CANNON 



Born with a jockey's highest instincts, Tom 

 Cannon became notorious chiefly on account of 

 his deliciously persuasive hands. Light, yet very 

 decided, they have never been excelled, more 

 especially upon a two-year-old. They quieted 

 down the most fractious mounts, or inspired faint- 

 hearted race-horses with a sense of victory. When 

 riding a cur, Tom Cannon was artistically insinua- 

 ting. Stealing almost imperceptibly to the front, 

 he had the knack of landing the odds, without 

 touching his horse with the whip, unless absolutely 

 necessary. And curiously interwoven with this 

 gliding jockeyship were a searching pair of eyes, a 

 resolute bearing, and a very noticeable pair of side 

 whiskers. 



Whilst apologising for using nautical similes, 

 let us picture in our minds two vessels in mid- 

 ocean racing against one another, A sailing 

 yacht built upon exquisite lines, scudding before 

 a spanking breeze, rising buoyantly and parting 

 the waves with her bows, might be likened to 

 the jockeyship of Tom Cannon, who rode as light 

 as a cork floats in water. To illustrate the head- 

 strong riding of the late Frederick Archer, let us 

 imagine a steamer, vibrating from stem to stern 



