I46 ON THE RIGHTS OF BEASTS. 



verity, is practifed in horfe-racing, it is ufually 

 among ignorant and black-guard pretenders ; 

 the true gentleman-fportfman, from his know- 

 ledge and experience, is able to judge with fuf- 

 ficient accuracy of the extent of his horfe's 

 powers ; and to difcriminate between the cor- 

 rection neceflary to excite their exertion, and 

 bootlefs cruelty. Such a character would ever 

 rather choofe to err on the fide of humanity, if, 

 in any fenfe, that could be called an error. 

 Some jockies are in the odious habit of but- 

 chering and cutting up their horfes unnecef- 

 farily, or merely to make an oftentatious dif- 

 play of their powers in the ufe of the whip and 

 fpur ; to fpeak the truth, they lie under a dif- 

 agreeable predicament in the cafe ; their bread 

 being at {lake, they mutt not incur fufpicion ; 

 but I have known men of that clafs, of feeling 

 hearts as well as keen heads, and who poffeffed 

 the jutted ideas of companion. The following 

 anecdote will ferve the purpofe of farther il- 

 luflration. Some years fince, a young jockey, 

 who was in no particular fervice, but rode for 

 various employers, defcribed to me, very feel- 

 ingly, the painful fituation in which he then 

 found himfelf : he had lately ridden the horfe 

 of a certain man, who kept feveral in training, 

 and of whom he earned a good deal of money ; 

 but notwithstanding the utmoft exertion of his 

 flrength and (kill, with a particular horfe, he 



found 



