JOCKEYS. 309 



as of the famous Jim Eobinson starting away to 

 the Heath to watch Frank Buckle ride, and if 

 his work were not completed promising half his 

 plum-pudding on the following Sunday to the 

 lad who would nndertake to rack up his horse 

 for him. Frank Buckle and Jim Eobinson were 

 quite at the head of their profession, and the 

 criticisms of some of their races are interesting 

 to sportsmen of the day. Sporting reports now- 

 adays are usually done in a superficial manner, 

 the writer contenting himself with the summary 

 of bare facts ; but details would often be 

 valuable. In an old sporting magazine the 

 reader will find it described how Buckle on 

 Scotia in the Oaks of 1802 was " beaten three 

 times between the Corner and home," but finally 

 got up and won. A less accomplished rider 

 would have made his effort with undue despera- 

 tion and abandoned the contest ; but Buckle 

 knew the great secret of nursing his horse, and 

 was also a proficient in what is known as 

 *' gammoning," that is, " appearing to be at work 

 when in reality waiting, a practice very dangerous 

 to opponents, who never knew when he had 

 done with his horse." Buckle was regarded as 

 a rich man, his earnings as a rider being calcu- 

 lated at ^1200 a year. In spite of Robinson's 

 admiration for Buckle, he is said to have formed 



