'THE JOCKEY' 353 



rivalled hardihood and soundness of the native breed. Now 

 that racing has made such strides in the Plate and Chili, 

 breeders of fine blood stock favour " early foaling, as near 

 as possible after August," from which date ages are taken. 

 Just as it is with us, so is it with them, for the result is a 

 greatly increased mortality, and a variety of unsoundness 

 unheard of in olden days.' 



THE OLD AND THE NEW JOCKEY 



' If,' writes Mr. William Day, 'we compare the work 

 done in the old days by jockeys with that done to-day, 

 we shall find as great extremes ; and it may be added, 

 parenthetically, in the work done by stable-boys as well. 

 It was once no uncommon sight at Newmarket to see 

 daily ten or a dozen wasting jockeys returning from an 

 eight-mile walk, thoroughly exhausted. Now such a thing 

 is scarcely known, and never done, except by a few of our 

 oldest men. Jockeys then were seen riding over New- 

 market Heath, with a light saddle tied round their waist, 

 in their boots and breeches, and carrying their own 

 saddles to the scales, and saddling their own horses. Now 

 most of them ride in carriages to the course, dressed as 

 gentlemen in the very height of fashion, and having their 

 horses saddled for them. What would such jockeys think 

 of riding from Exeter to Stockbridge on a small pony 

 with their light saddle tied round their waist, after the 

 races, and arriving at the latter place in time to ride there, 

 and to start for Southampton races, the next in order, in 

 ample time to ride ? Mr. Montgomery Diliy and my 

 father both did this as boys for two consecutive year.n. 

 Old Mr. Forth, as a boy, I am told, used to rise from his 

 bed and walk wasting through the night, in order to keep 

 himself light, besides doing his daily work. And when my 

 father trained he often wasted by walking on the Downs 

 during the time the horses were taking their exercise, 

 which is much more trying than walking on the road. 

 And yet with all his riding and with one hundred horses 

 under his charge, he had no one to wait on him, either 

 valet, amanuensis, or clerk. Similar cases might be given 

 by scores ; but I think enough has been said to show how 

 great is the change for the worse, not only as regards their 

 physical capability, but the inclination to exert themselves, 

 in the jockeys of the present day.' 



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