JOCKEYS IN TRIALS. 4 i 7 



crack riders of the day. I think a word may in fair- 

 ness be said for and against both. 



It may be bold to say so, but I believe I am 

 correct in my view, that jockeys are more often than 

 not the cause of the mistakes that are made in trials. 

 Ludicrous as it may appear, it is a fact that many of 

 them try to add to their reputation hy winning trials ! 

 To do so, they will sacrifice everything ; will take 

 advantage, if possible, of the boys that ride with 

 them ; and even jealously try to outride each other, 

 thus making the trial a farce. In this and other 

 respects stable-boys have an advantage. They are 

 usually on horses they are accustomed to, thoroughly 

 know the course, and are always sure to make a good 

 pace ; which cannot be said for all jockeys, if left to 

 themselves. And for these reasons, I may confi- 

 dently say more mistakes are made in trials by 

 jockeys than by stable-boys. 



As to the race itself, if stable-boys can and do ride 

 trials to the trainer's satisfaction, what reason can be 

 assigned for their not riding in races equally well ? 

 It is a singular fact that boys were employed in 

 riding all the six trials before mentioned, and that 

 three out of the four winners were ridden by stable- 

 lads, and only one out of the other three horses won 

 in the hands of a jockey. What did the following 

 stable-boys do — for Maidment and J. Parsons at the 

 time could scarcely be called by any other name, 

 having only shortly before left my stables ? The 



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