i64 JOCKEYS. 



" Then you will plainly understand that the next time I 

 ride for you I shall know what to do." This, or a similar 

 impertinence, rises at once to the lips of these tiny boys 

 when addressing men who are not only their masters but 

 old enough to be their grandfather. 



But the remedy is simple, if it is not likely to be adopted. 

 Pay them fairly but no more, and they would soon learn that 

 " civility gains esteem." Indeed, for my part, I see no reason 

 why even an old and valued jockey, much less a mere lad, 

 should be paid so much in excess of his real deserts : he takes 

 no trouble, has no anxiety, never probably having seen the 

 animal he rides until a few minutes before the start, and in a 

 few minutes afterwards, is presented with ;^i,ooo or even 

 double that amount for riding, be it ever so badly. Some 

 may, and I know do say, that such sums are given to en- 

 courage acts of honesty; and that smaller payments would 

 have a contrary effect at a subsequent period. Now the 

 truth is, that whatever power a jockey may possess, or 

 however brilliantly he may exercise it, so long as he 

 receives the regulation fee, he is well and fairly paid for 

 his services ; and I should have little faith in the honesty 

 of a jockey whose moral rectitude "stood on such slippery 

 ground " as the expectation of gratuitous and in reality 

 unearned money. 



I think no right-minded or liberal man would for a moment 

 object to pay for talent, real or supposed. As a matter 

 of fact, most owners do so, by the salary given for a call 

 for the services of this or the other jockey, sometimes even 

 to boys ; but any payment beyond this is an act of gene- 

 rosity and should be so considered. But when a jockey 

 rides in your trial and works himself night and day to 

 reduce himself to the proper weight by wasting, and faith- 



