STABLE-BOYS IN THE SADDLE. 419 



a rather remarkable race. This took place at 

 Brighton, when E. Bird, who had never ridden in 

 public before, although he had occasionally ridden in 

 my trials, was up on the worst favourite out of 

 fourteen runners, and after an exciting and most 

 interesting finish, won bv a head, beating one of 



O %J ' CD 



the most accomplished jockeys of the day in a very 

 masterly style — a performance the excellence of 

 which Avas this once, for a wonder, recognised by the 

 public ! 



To say that races are not sometimes lost by over- 

 anxiety on the part of the lad to 'get home,' would 

 be an extravagant assertion ; yet in candour their 

 best friends will, I am sure, readily admit that, on 

 scientific principles, jockeys often lose races by lying 

 ' out of their ground ' in the early part, or by coming 

 at a critical instant just too late at the finish, after a 

 wonderful display of horsemanship. The effect is 

 powerfully thrilling and most admirable, but still 

 unsatisfactory to all but themselves and the mob. I 

 do not say for a moment that jockeys do not ride 

 good races also, and many of them — just as, viewing 

 the matter as I do, I do not believe for a moment 

 that it is any reflection on their ability to be on 

 occasion beaten by the others, who are, as I have 

 said, experienced riders. Still there is the fact that 

 they are often so beaten by stable-boys, and I draw 

 attention to it. And I think it will be conceded that 

 jockeys are not always infallible, or make the most of 



27—2 



