224 PROFESSIONAL HARDSHIPS. 



wealthiest jockey of his day — after winning the Derby and 

 making a large fortune, ended his days in abject poverty, 

 dying of a broken heart, caused by the duplicity of friends 

 and scorn of foes. Mr. Ridsdale, who enjoyed the reputa- 

 tion of being one of the best trainers of his time, died, we 

 are told, in a hayloft for the want of a bed to lie upon, with 

 only three halfpence in his pocket. These cases are not 

 without parallels in our day. It may not be easy to deter- 

 mine the cause of great wealth and poverty thus existing 

 almost simultaneously ; but in part it may be thus accounted 

 for. Few trainers or jockeys begin life with a fortune, but 

 some often quickly make one. They are then noticed and 

 praised, befooled and idolized, by those who live on them — 

 so long as they are successful. The lucky jockey is, after a 

 few successes, proclaimed "a living wonder;" but reverses 

 come, and he is as roundly abused and deserted. The 

 trainer shares a similar experience. 



But the chief hardships that befall the trainer have been 

 pointed out in this chapter : the actions which, on the part 

 of owners, their pseudo-friends and the public at large, are 

 the unworthy cause of much unpleasantness between employer 

 and employed. If I have dwelt upon the topic, it is because 

 I believe if the errors be shown they will be avoided in the 

 future. If the owners of racehorses had but less confidence 

 in their friends and more faith in their own judgment and in 

 the honesty and ability of their trainers, they would not only 

 have no cause to regret it, but would make life pleasanter to 

 those they employ. 



