A GREAT REVIVAL 97 



of mind. I afterwards learned that Sir Joseph 

 asked him what he supposed he received a 

 retainer for. Did he not think it was his duty 

 to ask his employer, or his employer *s trainer, 

 what horses the stable was running before entering 

 into engagements to ride other people's horses ? 

 At that interview Wells got no release ; indeed, 

 he was kept in a state of suspense until the 

 morning of St. Leger day. Then he was told 

 that Woldga would not run and that he might 

 ride Queen Bertha. " It will," said Sir Joseph 

 to me, " teach him not to take these liberties." 

 Wells profited by this uncomfortable experience ; 

 never again did he engage himself to ride horses 

 belonging to other owners without first obtaining 

 leave. As a master, Sir Joseph was kindness 

 itself, but he would stand no nonsense. 



Wells was a most capable jockey, and as 

 " straight as a die." The Blue Gown incident 

 at Doncaster is, so far as I know, the only black 

 mark against his name. There was not sufficient 

 money in the Bank of England to bribe him to 

 ride a crooked race. In the matter of dress, he 

 was most eccentric. Custance has something 

 to say about this in his Recollections, 



You would one day see him in a tall hat very much 

 turned up at the sides, and next day he would be wearing 

 a cream-coloured one, with a deep black band. On one 

 occasion, when he was riding Pero Gomez at exercise 

 on the course at Doncaster on the Tuesday morning, 



H 



