DECLARATIONS TO WIN DISOBEYED. 171 



of a jockey who not only knew his business but did it, when 

 on Lollipop he allowed Midlothian to win, though the latter 

 might have been beaten as easily as the selected horse was 

 beaten in either of the disastrous instances named. 



I shall conclude my remarks on this subject by giving in 

 cxtenso a letter of my own written in 1871, which I trust may 

 be thought to deal in some measure with so serious a matter. 



To the Editor of the Sporting Gazette. 



Sir, — To the many remarks the extraordinary running for 

 the Wrekin Nursery has called forth, may I be allowed to 

 add a few, which I trust will be found pertinent .-' An owner 

 of horses has so many difficulties to contend with, that few 

 men can tell where they commence, and none where they 

 may end. Suffice it for me to draw attention to a few adverse 

 circumstances that may happen to any owner. Even with the 

 start, or rather I should say no start, or at the least a bad 

 one, your hopes may be frustrated. Your jockey may come 

 in short of weight, he may carry too much without declaring 

 it, or be too late in doing so ; he may go the wrong course, 

 the wrong side of a post, or, in racing phraseology, he may 

 " come too soon " or " too late," and so lose the race he ought 

 to have won. These, though casualties none can foresee or 

 prevent, are, nevertheless, very annoying when they occur, 

 and enough to deter many from racing that would otherwise 

 do so. But when jockeys wilfully disregard their legitimate 

 orders, then no censure can be too severe, and correction 

 should in every case be administered at once ; for, if not 

 openly condemned, it would tacitly be offering a premium for 

 insubordination and dishonesty. There is generally some sin- 

 ister motive for acts of disobedience on the part of refractory 

 jockeys — I do not say it is so with all, but with many — which 

 requires strong repressive measures to prevent its repetition. 



Such races as the " Wrekin " happily are not of frequent 

 occurrence. Still, we hear of them too often. Look at the 

 race with Mr. Wreford's two, many years ago, at Stockbridge ; 



