41) 



comparison with Steeple-racing, as one to a hundred. 

 Many people imagine that jockeys are constantly paid 

 to lose races ; but this is by no means the case : that 

 it sometimes occurs is doubtless the fact ; but when 

 it does, it is in some leather-plating concern, and 

 among fourth or fifth rate riders, who have no cha- 

 racter to lose ; for in all great races no men are put 

 on any of the horses that are considered as having a 

 chance, but who are, generally speaking, men of prin- 

 ciple and character, and Avho would not lose a race 

 purposely if directed or even bribed to do so. But sup- 

 posing there may be those among such men as would 

 do this, the fact is, it is not left to them to lose. If it 

 is intended their horse shall not win, the race is lost 

 before they mount him. A much surer game is 

 played than trusting to their word that they would 

 lose, or their management to do so : their horse is 

 made so safe that all the jockey ship in the world 

 could not make him win. Thus even here the best 

 judgment is beat by rascality. What chance then 

 has a man betting on a Steeple -race, when the same 

 thing is constantly clone, where all sorts of excuses 

 may be made for the best horse being nowhere, and 

 where, if you do find a jock willing to enter into your 

 plans, he may lose in fifty ways without the slightest 

 suspicion being attached to his conduct, or fault found 

 with his riding ? In Ireland, the Steeple-races were 

 generally about two miles, and there a great portion 

 of the race was seen ; but, as we mercifully always 

 make it four, and sometimes more, at least three 

 miles of it are run out of sight, or at all events at 

 such a distance off that we can just say, " There they 

 go," or " That's them by the wood yonder." Some 

 people tell me, as an excuse for this senseless kind of 



VOL. I. E 



