DECLARATIONS TO WIN DISOBEYED. 171 
of a jockey who not only knew his business but did it, when 
on Lollipop he allowed Midlothian to win, though the latter 
might have been beaten as easily as the selected horse was 
beaten in either of the disastrous instances named. 
I shall conclude my remarks on this subject by giving zz 
extenso a letter of my own written in 1871, which I trust may 
be thought to deal in some measure with so serious a matter. 
To the EDITOR of the SPORTING GAZETTE. 
Si1r,—To the many remarks the extraordinary running for 
the Wrekin Nursery has called forth, may I be allowed to 
add a few, which I trust will be found pertinent? An owner 
of horses has so many difficulties to contend with, that few 
men can tell where they commence, and none where they 
may end. Suffice it for me to draw attention to a few adverse 
circumstances that may happen to any owner. Even with the 
start, or rather I should say no start, or at the least a bad 
one, your hopes may be frustrated. Your jockey may come 
in short of weight, he may carry too much without declaring 
it, or be too late in doing so; he may go the wrong course, 
the wrong side of a post, or, in racing phraseology, he may 
“comet too soon” or “ too late,” and so lose the race he ought 
to have won. These, though casualties none can foresee or 
prevent, are, nevertheless, very annoying when they occur, 
and enough to deter many from racing that would otherwise 
do so. But when jockeys wilfully disregard their legitimate 
orders, then no censure can be too severe, and correction 
should in every case be administered at once; for, if not 
openly condemned, it would tacitly be offering a premium for 
insubordination and dishonesty. There is generally some sin- 
ister motive for acts of disobedience on the part of refractory 
jockeys—I do not say it is so with al], but with many—which 
requires strong repressive measures to prevent its repetition. 
Such races as the “Wrekin” happily are not of frequent 
occurrence. Still, we hear of them too often. Look at the 
race with Mr. Wreford’s two, many years ago, at Stockbridge ; 
