76 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



develops them. For example : ' The most extra- 

 ordinary incidents in connection with the final issue 

 of a race took place in the St. Leger in Theodore's 

 memorable year (1822). Theodore, at two years old, 

 had run successfully ; but he had been wofully de- 

 feated a few weeks previous to the decision of the 

 St. Leger, a circumstance which appears not to have 

 been viewed in its proper light. He had fallen in 

 public estimation ; and in proof of this it only need 

 be mentioned that, on the morning of the race, a 

 hundred guineas to a walking-stick of the value 

 of one shilling was laid against him, and taken ! 

 This extraordinary transaction took place in the 

 High Street, near the Earn Inn. Jackson, who had 

 been appointed by Mr. Petre to ride Theodore, was 

 sadly mortified at his own position and at his chance 

 for the race. Indeed, he was very desirous of riding 

 one of Mr. Gascoigne's horses either the colt or the 

 filly; but he preferred the latter (Yiolet). and de- 

 clared over and over again that he could win upon 

 either one or the other. " Why, Jackson," said one 

 of his friends, " Theodore is a good horse, after all ; 

 he won't stop in the race." " No," said the veteran 

 jockey, " I know he won't stop ; but he has not 

 strength, I am afraid, to go with Mr. Gascoigne's 

 horses." 



' During the whole of the forenoon Jackson was 

 extremely low-spirited, and had scarcely a word to 

 throw at a dog, especially when he learnt the state 



