TURF REVELATIONS 73 



to, and concerning which certain speculators had 

 taken liberties with Lord March's representative, 

 these individuals, to save themselves and make a 

 coup, managed to find out which of his lordship's 

 lads would most probably have the mount: then a 

 large sum was otfered the latter to lose the match.^ 

 The jockey fortunately knew his lordship better than 

 the blackleg ; he also knew on what side his ' bread 

 Avas buttered.' With a shrewdness that speaks well 

 for his lordship's racing tuition, the jockey at once 

 acquainted his master of the affair. ' Take it,' said 

 the astute March ; ' I will hold you blameless.' 

 Though this is all the conversation recorded, it is 

 possible that Lord March counselled caution ; but 

 here steps in his lordship's own 'bump.' He did 

 not vouchsafe a word to his jockey or racing friends 

 respecting what his modus operandi would be for 

 thwarting the race ' speculator.' Therefore the jockey 

 thought he was to ride, though he may have relied 

 on his lordship forestalling, by some means, the 

 confederacy who imagined themselves to have a 

 good thing on. 



All went well until the day of the race, for which 



^ The lad was said by some to be Dick Goodison. This I consider 

 more than doubtful, as Dick and Lord March did not become in- 

 terested in each other till some years after. 



