1773 FIE ST PEEIOD : CONCLUDED 161 



dawn of the ' Weatherby era/ when the Jockey Club 

 became almost complete masters of the situation by 

 means of the publication which has been known all 

 over the racing world in its book form for about 120 

 years as ' "Weatherby 's Racing Calendar,' whereof 

 the first sole proprietor was Mr. James Weatherby, 

 keeper of the match-book at Newmarket and the 

 Jockey Club's devoted henchman. The event is so 

 important as almost to deserve a fresh chapter for the 

 history and consideration of it. 



As hand washes hand, so the Weatherbys, by 

 means of their ' Calendar,' have assisted the Jockey 

 Club, and the Jockey Club, by their patronage, have 

 assisted Messrs. Weatherby. The history of that 

 ' Calendar ' is as follows : 



As long ago as 1670, according to the evidence 

 that can be obtained, there was a ' Calendar of Horse- 

 racing' set up at Newmarket 'by request,' the author 

 being a certain Mr. John Nelson, and the price being 

 half a crown. But little, if any, more information 

 is forthcoming in respect either of the work or of 

 its author. After, though probably not immediately 

 after him (else we should undoubtedly know more 

 about him and his work), came a Mr. John Cheney, 

 whose pedigree and performances have not been 

 handed down quite so carefully as they might have 

 been had he boasted to be the son of a quadrupedal 

 sire distinguished upon the Turf, and who, to trust to 

 memory, is somewhere described, a little vaguely, as 



M 



