600 HISTORY OF THE 



and makes amends for former privations by in- 

 dulgence, — that injures the constitution. 



On the conclusion of the racing season, the 

 jockey's holidays commence, and during the 

 months in which they may be said to be compara- 

 tively idle, he passes his time in enjoying good 

 cheer,* in visiting, coursing, cock-fighting, and 

 sometimes in hunting. 



The following information on this subject, com- 

 municated to Sir John Sinclair, in 1805, who was 

 at great pains and cost to collect, by every pos- 

 sible means, the best information respecting 

 the training and reducing of jockies, will be 

 read with interest, from the fact of its having been 

 obtained from the late Mr. Wm. Sandevir, an 

 eminent surgeon, of Newmarket, and who had 

 paid the greatest attention to the subject for many 

 years. 



*' Q. — How long the training of jockies generally 

 continues ? 



A. — With those in high repute as riders, in a 

 greater or less degree, from about three weeks be- 

 fore Easter to the end of October ; but a week or 

 ten days are quite sufficient for a rider to reduce 

 himself from the weight he is naturally of, to some- 

 times a stone and a half below it. 



Q.— What food do they live on, both solid and 



* The late Frank Buckle always had a goose for supper on the last 

 day of the Houghton Meeting, that being the conclusion of his labours 

 /or the season. 



