JOCKEYS. 343 



included in the retainer a jockey gets from his 

 master. Jockeys of celebrity are often retained 

 by noblemen and gentlemen specially to ride 

 their horses in preference to those of other 

 competitors, for which they receive a handsome 

 wage or retaining fee in addition to the usual 

 payments for their services in the saddle, win or 

 lose. They may thus be engaged by several 

 masters during the same season, having first, 

 second, and third calls, according to priority of 

 engagement ; so that a retained jockey has not 

 the power to ride for casual fees, unless when 

 his services are not required by one or other of 

 his regular employers, and it rarely happens that 

 one or other of a jockey's masters has not a horse 

 for him to ride in all the classic races. 



Pre-engagements, then, although remunerative, 

 are not always advantageous. A jockey who 

 might have ridden a Derby winner has often 

 been compelled to mount in that race, in the vain 

 hope of victory, an inferior horse, because of 

 having to obey the call of one or other of those 

 who had retained his services. 



The fees earned by a successful jockey, 

 speaking roundly, form the least portion of his 

 income, as the presents given him by owners of 

 horses and numerous " admirers," in the shape 

 of bettors who have backed his mounts, are 

 frequent and valuable. Gold watches, diamond 

 rings, and breast-pins set with rubies ; riding 

 horses, dog-carts, and yachts ; as well as suits of 

 clothes, new hats, boxes of cigars, and cases of 

 champagne, fall to the lot of fortunate jockeys 

 who win important races. A noted professional 

 horseman a few years ago received, it was said, in 



