NEWMARKET REMINISCENCES 191 



booth to fall back upon. There was no Rowley 

 Mile Stand, so, perhaps, naturally refreshment 

 rooms in it were lacking. If I recollect right, the 

 tent was pitched about where the *'yard" of the 

 present stand is now. Bookmakers betted at 

 *' the cords," many of them on cabs and carriages, 

 or in the ring opposite the Bushes, whose wooden 

 stand was removed a few years ago, and a great 

 proportion of spectators made this their head- 

 quarters. The judge's box was dragged from 

 station to station, and by the side of the course 

 a flying brigade of horsemen scurried with the 

 racers to the best of their ability. I forget what 

 you paid for the stand, such as it was — ten 

 shillings a meeting, I fancy ; but I know that 

 the collectors would not consider them taking 

 any but a friendly view of proprietorial co-opera- 

 tion in putting acquaintances on the free list or 

 accepting fees as a sort of recurring testimonial 

 to themselves, in no way ranking for division ; 

 not to mention the takings going into revenue — 

 the Jockey Club's revenue — account. A power 

 of sharping went on between this ring and the 

 winning-posts in quickly signalling the winner's 

 numbers for betting after the event, and there is no 

 exaggeration in stories representing ''foreigners" 

 as being on the course waiting for sport to begin 

 while racing was being carried on to the various 

 finishes. Jockeys then wasted in cruel fashion. 

 You find very little wasting by exercise now, 

 which to a great extent is a good thing, because 

 the operation is unnatural and unfair to the 

 constitution. In the first place, a growing boy 

 or lad ought never to go through severe work to 

 reduce his weight. The youngster must lose 

 through the transaction in the long run by 



