HOW THE TRAINER COMES TO BE BLAMED. 209 



CHAPTER XXI. 



PROFESSIONAL HARDSHIPS. 



Assumed incapability of trainers : liow originated ; public slanders ; officious inter- 

 ference of friends — The result, removal of horses ; instances from my own 

 experience — The advice of the friend and of the trainer contrasted — Eccentric 

 owners and their doings — Influence of servants instanced in the case of Lord 

 Palmerston's stud — Payment of training accounts : hardships of deferred pay- 

 ments shown in diverse instances ; the credit system and the bill discounter ; 

 examples of liberality, and in my own experience — Unexplained removal of 

 horses : its prejudice to the trainer ; instance of Lord George Bentinck at 

 Danebury ; other instances at Woodyates ; arguments in support of the 

 trainer's right to an explanation — Groundless complaints against trainers and 

 jockeys ; illustrated in two instances — Why trainers and jockeys are poor — 

 Mr. Chifney and Mr. Ridsdale — The discussion of the subject justified. 



In the account that has been given of the process of 

 training the racehorse, it will be seen that the life of 

 the trainer has its full share of responsibility, cares, and 

 difficulties. But there are other anxieties which, in truth, 

 may not unfairly be termed hardships, that deserve some 

 notice. I am naturally diffident in introducing the topic, 

 because it is of a somewhat personal nature. But as the 

 existence of evils harmful to every one connected with a 

 racing-stable (whether as owner, trainer, or jockey) is due 

 I cannot doubt in most instances to ignorance of the facts 

 or to thoughtlessness, a few words on the subject will be 

 received, I must hope, in the spirit in which they are 

 offered. 



P 



