56 SPORTING STORIES 



such a hearty good-will," Bill said, " in all my life as into 

 that chap's bones." 



A well-known jockey in Bill Scott's employ was Harry 

 Edwards — " Ed'ards," he was usually called — who, though 

 he had but one eye, was among the finest riders of his 

 time. But he could not go straight, even when it was to 

 his advantage to do so, and he soon had to leave Scott's 

 employ for selling him in the most audacious manner on 

 Spirus at Wolverhampton. He would not try to get his 

 horse through, as Bill, who was riding in the race, saw from 

 the rear, although it was heavily backed and intended to 

 win. But Edwards cared nothing for that, and threw 

 over the lot, tempted by some paltry sum from one of the 

 many atrocious legs and ruffians with whom he was in 

 league. He would rather make a pony " on the cross " 

 than get a hundred on the square ; so thoroughly did he 

 enjoy doing a bit on the quiet on his own account, and 

 " putting the double edge on the swells," as he called it. 

 Latterly, Edwards became so notorious that no one would 

 give him a mount, so he shook the dust of his native land 

 from off his feet, went over to France, and took up his 

 abode at Nantes, where he trained, rode, and " nobbled " 

 for the mounseers in a small way, until death " nobbled " 

 him. 



As a rider, the beau-ideal of an out-and-out jockey, none 

 surpassed Samuel Chiffney, the younger, when in his prime : 

 his elegance of seat, perfection of hand, judgment of pace, 

 and power in the saddle were never excelled by any of his 

 contemporaries. He was at the same time the " Artful 

 Dodger " of the race-course; invariably the last to get off, 

 he would presently be seen creeping up to the other horses 

 — or was it that they with the pace telling on them, were 

 coming back to him ? — till he would overhaul them, and 

 then, leaning well back on his seat, he would let his horse 

 out on the post, and, with one cut from his whip, would 

 come with the rush of a tornado, frequently stealing a race 

 from animals infinitely superior to his own mount, by his 

 consummate calculations and unequalled impetuosity. 

 When for the Claret Stakes, at the Craven Meeting in 1829, 

 he rode his own horse Zingarec, and snatched the race from 



