372 training-groom's reflections. 



for it; so that, if our colt should be beat, we are, 

 with regard to our money matters, but where we 

 were ; and, if he should win, each of us will draw 

 a handsome stake. Our master, our jockey, and 

 the head lad, have all very still tongues, and 

 for their own sakes, in the present instance, they 

 will take care to keep them so. But, with Sam 

 and Bill, I must have some small quiet talk: for 

 the time they have been in the stables they have 

 kept very light ; and, as they ride both so well, I 

 have been obliged almost constantly to put 

 them up to ride not only different horses, but 

 very good ones; and whatever I have wanted to 

 know, as to what any such horses were capable 

 of doing in regard to the changes they may 

 have made towards improvement in their gallops, 

 sweats, and trials, I have at all times given those 

 two boys the very best orders I possibly could, 

 how they were to ride on all such occasions; and 

 whenever I have thought proper to question 

 them, after they have pulled up their horses, I 

 have mostly found their answers to be pretty 

 correct. Sam is a very patient rider, and, for 

 the experience he has had, he is a tolerable good 

 judge of pace. Bill is very strong and determined 

 on horseback, and can go very near to making 

 the most of a craving horse, in gradually drawing 



