CHASING AND RACING 263 



much older." Then we had a little argument ; but 

 I have since come to the conclusion that Tom was 

 right ! 



Of course I was known to, and knew, practically- 

 all the leading jockeys of the day, and one time and 

 another most of them rode for me, for I was not one 

 of those favourites of fortune whose exchequer permits 

 of their giving a lucrative " retainer '* to their pet 

 horseman ; so I had to take my chance of securing 

 the services of any disengaged and competent "jock " 

 on the day of the race toward. When I could get him 

 I had a leaning to " Morny " Cannon, and was a 

 patron of the Chaloner family. George, Dick, and 

 Phil all rode for me. I knew the Loates' bunch. 

 Charles (" Ben ") often sported my " two greens,'* 

 and I think Tommy did so on one occasion — Sam 

 never ! Otto Madden, T. J. Calder, Walter Bradford, 

 and Frank Allsopp (for each of whom I held a very 

 high opinion) were either apprentices, or just out of 

 their indentures, when I first put them up ; but all 

 subsequently attained high distinction. 



The few horses which I ran over the sticks or 

 between flags were, if not entrusted to my friend, 

 Roddy Owen, handled by Jesse Page, Prince's Stable 

 jockey, or by Arthur Nightingall. ** Jesse " was a 

 first-rate artist at the so-called illegitimate game, but 

 he hardly looked it ; for he was round as a little apple, 

 and, like myself, very short from the hips to the knee ; 

 nevertheless, he stuck close to the saddle over hurdles 



