JOCKEYS 47 



and trainers pretty consistently. The advent, how- 

 ever, of the American joc-keys — Sims and RielT, 

 and more recently Sloan — so altered the corapl?xion 

 of things by the style of riding they introduced that, 

 unless our jockeys can show us something fresh — 

 something we have yet been unacquainted with — 

 it will be difficult for them in public estimation, I 

 think, to keep pace with present surroundings. 



Some time ago. Sims and Rieff showed the Brit- 

 ish racing public what they could do in the saddle; 

 but these jockeys, skilled as they were, cannot be 

 said to have then had a very appreciative audi- 

 ence. Their style of riding, the manner of placing 

 themselves on the back of the horse, was new, and 

 being new was rather derided in consequence, es- 

 pecially by old-fashioned, out-of-date people. But 

 perhaps the worst that has to be said is that no- 

 body, not even one among the most experienced 

 horsemen in the country, could be found to be able 

 to make the discovery that there was scientfic 

 method in it. I do not say thej' were unwilling 

 to learn, but the fact is the style did not please, and 

 ponsequenly they saw comparatively little to merit 

 approbation. The result was these two good 

 jockeys got no riding outside their own stable, and 

 it never came to my knowledge they were offered a 

 juount by any gne to enable them to ^how what they 



