224 PROFESSIONAL HARDSHIPS. 
wealthiest jockey of his day—after winning the Derby and 
making a large fortune, ended his days in abject poverty, 
dying of a broken heart, caused by the duplicity of friends 
and scorn of foes. Mr. Ridsdale, who enjoyed the reputa- 
tion of being one of the best trainers of his time, died, we 
are told, in a hayloft for the want of a bed to lie upon, with 
only three halfpence in his pocket. These cases are not 
without parallels in our day. It may not be easy to deter- 
mine the cause of great wealth and poverty thus existing 
almost simultaneously; but in part it may be thus accounted 
for. Few trainers or jockeys begin life with a fortune, 
but some quickly make one. They are then noticed and 
praised, befooled and idolized, by those who live on them— 
so long as they are successful. The lucky jockey is, after a 
few successes, proclaimed “a living wonder ;” but reverses 
come, and he is as roundly abused and deserted. The 
trainer shares a similar experience. 
But the chief hardships that befall the trainer have been 
pointed out in this chapter: the actions which, on the part 
of owners, their pseudo-friends and the public at large, are 
the unworthy cause of much unpleasantness between employer 
and employed. If I have dwelt upon the topic, it is because 
I believe if the errors be shown they will be avoided in the 
future. If owners of racehorses had but less confidence in 
their friends and more faith in their own judgment and in 
the honesty and ability of their trainers, they would not only 
have no cause to regret it, but would make life pleasanter to 
those they employ. 
