CHAPTER XIX. 



BRITISH STABLES AND FOREIGN METHODS. 



" Regibus hie mos est ubi equos mercantur opertos 

 Inspiciunt ne si facies ut saepe decora 

 Molli fulta pede est emptorem inducat hiantem 

 Quod pulchras clunes breve quod caput ardua cervix." 



"DEFORE the death of the Prince Consort, Queen Victoria was often present 

 at Ascot, and on one occasion she was so pleased with " Little Bell's " riding 

 in the Ascot Stakes that she had the tiny jockey up to the Royal Box, and 

 asked if he really weighed under four stone. " Please, Ma'am," replied that 

 diminutive but self-possessed personage, "master told me never to say how much 



I weighed." There are, indeed, many things which a jockey should know that 

 he is "never to say," for his full value depends on several things besides horse- 

 manship ; but it is not always necessary to have resort to such strong measures as 

 were once employed by Sir Mark Wood, who kept racehorses long ago at Lower 

 Hare Park, near Newmarket. Sir Mark called the lad who had just ridden a trial 

 into his study. The colt was entered for the Two Thousand, and the question 

 of weights was an important one. " Here are five pounds for you," announced the 

 owner, grimly, producing a note and a pistol at the same time. " Now, mind you 

 hold your tongue. If this trial gets about I will blow out your brains with this 

 pistol." 



So many jockeys have in after life become successful trainers, that before 

 touching upon a few of the vexed questions which the trainer has to face, I must 

 emphasise a little more the important education the jockey acquires in the honest 

 and capable exercise of one of the hardest professions in the world. The racehorse 

 need not display any brilliant intellectual qualities. Indeed, it is better without 

 them. If a jockey is to be any use he must have good hands, and strength in a 

 light frame, both difficult things to find. But if he has not got brains as well, and 



