FAMOUS JOCKEYS 45 



when they finally strip and groom themselves care- 

 fully for the evening. Some men are bad wasters, 

 when nothing but very severe exercise, aided by 

 medicine and the most complete self-denial under 

 every craving appeal for food, suffices to get off the 

 last twenty-four ounces. Sam Chifney, Bill Scott, 

 and Eobinson were tall men by comparison with 

 others of the fraternity, and consequently not so easy 

 to reduce. But the season once concluded, few men 

 are more convivial or hospitable than the jockey, 

 when ample revenge is taken upon the sporting Lent 

 they have conformed to so piously.' l 



One would almost imagine that such a severe 

 course of training would sweat all the spirit out of a 

 man or boy ; but it does not, and the slim mannikins 

 are always lively. One of the great events of every 

 summer is a cricket-match between jockeys and 

 gentlemen connected with the sporting press, and the 

 display invariably made by the former proves that 

 they have a good deal of energy left after all the 

 severe and drastic process of reduction to which they 

 have been subjected. 



As an illustration of the mirth, fun, and good- 

 humour which generally prevail among the fraternity 

 of jockeys, we may give the following : ' A laughable 

 incident which took place at York many years ago, 

 when the celebrated Buckle was in his palmy days. 



1 The Bye-Lanes and Downs of England, by Sylvanus. 



