THE RACE-HORSE. 559 



of brandy, by exciting the external absorbents, will undo the 

 effects of several days' wasting. It will appear, then, that 

 it requires no slight degree of self-control in the jockey to 

 maintain, during a period of seven months of laborious exer- 

 cises, a system of abstinence to which the fast of Ramaddan 

 is a jest ; and it is not to be wondered at that, when his long 

 lent is over, he is too ready to welcome the season of good 

 cheer. It was the practice of Frank Buckle, on the last day 

 of the Houghton Meeting, always to order a goose for sup- 

 per ; and where is the lover of good things who might not 

 have envied Frank Buckle hi& goose ? 



Of the jockeys who have been in practice, some have been 

 so distinguished that they are regarded as masters of their 

 art. Francis Buckle first appeared as a rider in 1783, when 

 his weight, including the saddle, was a pound short of 4 st. 

 He soon became the most successful rider on the turf. He 

 rode the winners of five Derby, seven Oaks, and two St Leger 

 stakes. In 1802, he took long odds that he would win both 

 the Derby and Oaks, on horses not considered likely to win. 

 His horse at the Derby was the Duke of Grafton's Tyrant, 

 with 7 to 1 against him. Young Eclipse, considered to be 

 the best horse of the year, made play, and was opposed by 

 Sir Charles Bunbury's Orlando, who contested every inch 

 for the first mile. Buckle, from his observation of the pace, 

 and his fine judgment, was satisfied that both horses would 

 flag, so following and observing them, he came up with 

 Tyrant, and won ; Tyrant being considered the worst horse 

 that till then had won the Derby. Buckle had thus secured 

 one of the two ends proposed. The other was effected under 

 circumstances not less remarkable. The horse he rode, 

 Scotia, was beaten three times between the Tattenham 

 Corner and home, a distance of 4 furlongs ; but, by dint of 

 superb riding, Buckle got her again forward, and won the 

 race by a head. Other instances might be given of his power 

 to overcome difficulties by his judgment and fine horseman- 

 ship. He was once beaten by a lady, Mrs Colonel Thornton, 



