I 



JOCKEYS. 



In Newmarket and other racing stables there 

 are a very large number of boys employed — one 

 for each horse — most of whom are apprenticed 

 while very young to the trainers, to be taught 

 the business of a groom. Only a small number 

 of these boys develop, however, into passable 

 jockeys, and fewer still into what may be termed 

 great horsemen. Many of the lads grow so 

 rapidly that they soon become useless in the 

 racing saddle. Every now and again, however, 

 a lad of merit and mettle emerges from the crowd 

 of his fellows and earns a reputation as a con- 

 summate horseman ; but as there are more than 

 a thousand stable-boys, and only, perhaps, some 

 twenty jockeys of repute, it is obvious that the 

 prizes, as in other professions, are few, and the 

 blanks many. These stable-lads are taught their 

 business with much care, and in every respect are 

 well looked after. They are taken to church 

 every Sunday, and in some training establish- 

 ments there is Sabbath school and other teaching 

 as well. One trainer, a remarkable man in his 

 calling, not satisfied with two visits to church for 

 his lads, invariably read to them at night one of 

 Blair's sermons. If one of the boys was so 



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