242 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



on to the course to do a little exercise, when, 

 touching his cap politely, he said : "I seen you 

 here last year, sir, when you got the big hodds 

 agin 'Awthornden. I hope as you'll back the 

 mare, sir, she'll win easy enough ; but you won't 

 get no twenty-fives about her, sir, ten to three is 

 the biggest offer ; my 'umble advice to you, sir, 

 is to take it ; she'll win, sir, as easy as easy." 

 And so she did. After the race was over and I 

 was drawing the pony I had backed her to 

 win, there stood the retired stableman eagerly 

 looking on. " It's come off, sir, as I said ; she's 

 a fine mare. Thank you, sir, you're very polite ; 

 half sovs. are scarce with me now, sir ; but 

 in the days when Gully and Ridsdale were 

 a-flourishing at Newmarket, I've seen when I had 

 plenty of 'em. Take my 'umble advice again, sir, 

 and put all your winnings on Corisandy for the 

 big 'andicap ; she's another certainty, she is, sir." 

 And that is my preface to the following little 

 sketch of Gully and Ridsdale, who were among 

 the chief racing adventurers of their time. Both 

 men were of humble origin. Ridsdale was born 

 in York, and earned a small wage in his early 

 days as helper in a livery stable, from which he 

 was promoted to be a groom to the first Earl 

 of Durham, then Mr. Lambton. Robert Ridsdale 

 after a time, having given up service, made his 

 appearance on the turf as an adventurer, and 

 from the first success appears to have attended 

 his efforts. He had formed an extensive and 

 profitable acquaintance with many of the northern 

 trainers and jockeys, who at the period, say from 

 1815 onwards, were busy in the racing world; 

 the sport of kings at the time indicated being 



