86 THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



of them being consecutive Avins. The same names 

 crop up in the annals of the Oaks, and were the 

 chronicles of the various miscellaneous races and 

 matches of about a hundred years ago to be carefully 

 examined, it would be found that the riders just 

 enumerated had taken their share in the daily work 

 of the race-course, which at the period indicated was 

 far more onerous than the jockey work of to-day, 

 when there is no tiresome travelling work to undergo, 

 almost no sweating, and no stable drudgery for lads 

 who can ride in a race. The jockey of to-day keeps 

 his valet, and rides to the seats of racing in a first- 

 class railway carriage, with perhaps a Duchess on one 

 side of him and a baronet on the other. 



VI. 



The nominal remuneration of a jockey has been fixed 

 by the Jockey Club at five guineas for a winning 

 mount and three guineas for a losing one; but lead- 

 ing horsemen possess other sources of income than 

 their fees. Such is now the competition to obtain 

 the services of a sober and clever jockey, that a lad 

 of ability, in addition to his fees, will probably have a 

 retaining-salary from two or three masters, England's 

 chief horsemen, it is understood, have sev.eral retainers, 

 and from these engagements they very likely derive 

 more than they do in fees. In addition, however, to 

 this source of income; several of them pocket a pretty 

 considerable sum every season for riding trials, a great 

 number of which are constantly taking place at New- 



