My Racing Adventures 



what is expected from him at an unfamiliar 

 altitude." There is assuredly no royal road to 

 this art : it cannot be learned all at once ; a 

 strenuous apprenticeship is the only means to 

 attain the necessary skill and ability. Even so, 

 a little luck does us no harm. 



Nor have we given as yet a full catalogue of 

 a busy cross-country jockey's outgoings. If he is 

 riding, say, two or three times a day, his valet has 

 to be paid at least thirty shillings a meeting. 

 He cannot get on very well without the assistance 

 of that useful functionary. Thus, at the beginning 

 of a steeplechase season, I entrust him with my 

 breeches and boots, three saddles, weight-cloths, 

 whip, and everything appertaining to the riding. 

 He takes complete charge of them accordingly 

 till the season ends. He conveys them to the 

 various race meetings, having to pay cab fares, 

 tips, etc., for casual help in carrying them, and so 

 forth : it is by no means all profit so far as he 

 is concerned. He does not attend probably on 

 more than two or three jockeys in regular prac- 

 tice ; his work requires constant zeal and attention. 

 My notion is that he earns every penny he gets, 

 and the fact is notorious that while we conduct 

 our dealings chiefly in bronze coin, as it were, we 

 are not likely to make a very stately procession 



184 



