164 JOCKEYS. 
“Then you will plainly understand that the next time I 
ride for you I shall know what todo.” This, or a similar 
impertinence, rises at once to the lips of these tiny boys 
when addressing men who are not only their masters but 
old enough to be their grandfather. 
But the remedy is simple, if it is not likely to be adopted. 
Pay them fairly but no more, and they would soon learn that 
“civility gains esteem.” Indeed, for my part, I see no reason 
why even an old and valued jockey, much less a mere lad, 
should be paid so much in excess of his real deserts: he takes 
no trouble, has no anxiety, never probably having seen the 
animal he rides until a few minutes before the start, and ina 
few minutes afterwards, is presented with £1,000 or even 
double that amount for riding, be it ever so badly. Some 
may, and I know do say, that such sums are given to en- 
courage acts of honesty; and that smaller payments would 
have a contrary effect at a subsequent period. Now the 
truth is, that whatever power a jockey may possess, or 
however brilliantly he may exercise it, so long as he 
receives the regulation fee, he is well and fairly paid for 
his services; and I should have little faith in the honesty 
of a jockey whose moral rectitude “stood on such slippery. 
ground” as the expectation of gratuitous and in reality 
unearned money. 
I think no right-minded or liberal man would for a moment 
object to pay for talent, real or supposed. As a matter 
of fact, most owners do so, by the salary given for a call 
for the services of this or the other jockey, sometimes even 
to boys; but any payment beyond this is an act of gene- 
rosity and should be so considered. But when a jockey 
rides in your trial and works himself night and day to 
reduce himself to the proper weight by wasting, and faith- 
