jockey's tricks. 305 



loss of time a start was at last effected, but in 

 most irregular fashion, as Matilda and Translation 

 got off several lengths ahead of the rest of the 

 field. When the flag fell Mameluke's head was 

 turned the other way, which caused him to lose at 

 least one hundred yards. Although Jem Kobinson, 

 on Matilda, made every use that he could of his 

 advantageous start by forcing the pace, Mameluke 

 gradually made up his lost ground, and got on 

 terms with Mr Petre's filly ; but in the end Robin- 

 son's splendid riding was not to be denied, as he 

 nursed his mare for a final effort, and won the race 

 by a short half-length. There are many living, 

 besides myself, who remember the race, and the 

 rumours about it, which were on every tongue. 

 Some blamed the starter, who, I believe, was 

 shortly afterwards dismissed from his situation. 

 At that time the jealousies between the north- 

 country and south -country jockeys were in full 

 blast, and deep were the ill - feeling and malice 

 existing between them. Nor were these evil 

 practices confined to the jockeys. There were 

 speculators on the Turf who were always ready 

 to purchase horses engaged in a great race, with 

 a view of sending them to the post solely to 

 create difficulties at the start, and thus facilitate 

 the victory of an outsider. For instance, when 

 Priam, who was a great favourite, won the Derby 

 in 1830, there were fourteen false starts, all of 

 which took place in a heavy downpour of rain. 



u 



