344 A MIRROR OF THE TURK 



two seasons as many boxes of cigars as would 

 have stocked a modest shop. The same lad was 

 also presented, in the course of his career, with 

 seven gold watches (he always used a silver one) 

 and seven finger-rings set with diamonds, as well 

 as with other valuable jewels. Money gifts to 

 successful jockeys are now, however, the order of 

 the day, and that such gifts are often of great 

 magnitude there is abundant evidence to show. 

 It is well known, for instance, in turf circles that 

 the jockey who rode Roseberry, the winner of 

 the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, was presented by 

 the owner of that horse with a cheque for ^i,ooo; 

 a similar sum being given to the jockey who rode 

 the winner of the Cambridgeshire, also won by 

 Roseberry. Such sums, large as they undoubtedly 

 are, extravagant as they may indeed appear in the 

 eyes of non-racing people, have been more than 

 once bestowed for work well done on the race- 

 course. So far back as the year 1824, Benjamin 

 Smith was presented with a testimonial of nearly 

 £1,000, subscribed for by a number of persons, 

 on the occasion of his admirable riding of Jerry 

 in the great St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster. 

 The jockey who rode the winner of a sensational 

 Derby was presented by the owner of the winning 

 horse, Hermit, with a sum of ^3,000. Another 

 gentleman gave him what in racing parlance is 

 called a " monkey," which is ;^500 ; whilst a 

 present of ^^ 100 was bestowed by a third person. 

 Numerous offerings of lesser value, as also some 

 gifts of jewellery, were likewise sent to the hero 

 of the race, who is said to have netted over 

 ^4,000 by his exertions on that one occasion, 

 which is about double the sum paid to Sir Walter 



