HINTS TO YOUNG JOCKIES.

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latter, if a good and willing horse, is only of very rare occurrence. I am quite aware that some horses require "getting along all the way." But this is not punishment, and such horses are but a few among the many; and I am satisfied many racing men will agree with me that if we could contrive to give most jockies their whip and spurs when a hundred yards from home, and not till then, it would be all the better; for I venture to assert, without fear of contradiction, that an early application of either loses by far a greater number of races than ever were won by it, and, in more cases than are supposed, produce a shortened instead of a lengthened stride. Experienced jockeys know this, and seldom use their whip but as a last resource: young ones, and particularly gentleman jocks, too often make it their first. Whether wanted or not, this does make racing cruelty. I can only say, if I was a race-horse, I would rather be ridden ten races by such men as the Chifneys, Robinsons, Scots, Days, and many others, severe as they can be, than be ridden once by the generality of gentlemen or ordinary jocks. With the first, I should be certain of not being punished unless I deserved it, or necessity compelled them to it: with the latter, I should be almost sure of it, perhaps a quarter of a mile from home, unless absolutely in front, and indeed sometimes then. If we were always to flog a boy, when he is first put up to ride, if he dared strike his horse when more than half distance from the winning-post, nine times out of ten he would have deserved it, and it would make a jockey of him. As to the gentlemen jocks, if there were ten of them, I should like to flog at least nine before they start merely as a reminder to use more head, more hands,

48

A GODSEND TO THE LEGS.

more patience, and less whip during the race. They would improve much under the discipline: but as they would not probably submit to be severely whipped, I suppose their poor horses must. Such men as Lord Howth, General Gilbert, Captain Pettat, Mr. Kent, Mr. White, and some others, are exceptions: they are of course excluded from my flogging speculation; but for God's sake give it to scores of others I could name con amore—that is, if This would be justice- not cruelty.

you can! Steeple-racing is a description of sport for which we are chiefly indebted to Ireland for its introduction here; and certainly if a medium had been wanting through which robbery could be effected with more impunity and less chance of detection than by any other mode of racing, our debt of obligation to the Sister Isle is very heavy indeed. Racing in the old and legitimate way was, is, and probably ever will be, bad enough in this particular; but here a good deal of nice tact and contrivance is wanting to bring the thing off without being too glaring; and even then, detection very often, and suspicion always, follows the perpetrators. But Steeple-racing opens a field to the veriest bungler in the art of gentlemanlike robbery and rascality. How any man in his senses can sport his money on such an event (unless he is one of a gang) strikes me with perfect astonishment, for here all judgment, all knowledge of the relative powers of horses, all calculation on former running is thrown away. The casualties incident to Steeple-racing set all this at defiance, even supposing that all was intended (which it seldom or ever is) to be fair. In racing over the course, good judgment will in the long run stand our friend: here the casualties are, in

A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS."

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comparison with Steeple-racing, as one to a hundred. Many people imagine that jockeys are constantly paid to lose races; but this is by no means the case: that it sometimes occurs is doubtless the fact; but when it does, it is in some leather-plating concern, and among fourth or fifth rate riders, who have no character to lose; for in all great races no men are put on any of the horses that are considered as having a chance, but who are, generally speaking, men of principle and character, and who would not lose a race purposely if directed or even bribed to do so. But supposing there may be those among such men as would do this, the fact is, it is not left to them to lose. If it is intended their horse shall not win, the race is lost before they mount him. A much surer game is played than trusting to their word that they would lose, or their management to do so: their horse is made so safe that all the jockeyship in the world could not make him win. Thus even here the best judgment is beat by rascality. What chance then has a man betting on a Steeple-race, when the same thing is constantly done, where all sorts of excuses may be made for the best horse being nowhere, and where, if you do find a jock willing to enter into your plans, he may lose in fifty ways without the slightest suspicion being attached to his conduct, or fault found with his riding? In Ireland, the Steeple-races were generally about two miles, and there a great portion of the race was seen; but as we mercifully always make it four, and sometimes more, at least three miles of it are run out of sight, or at all events at such a distance off that we can just say, "There they go," or "That's them by the wood yonder." Some people tell me, as an excuse for this senseless kind of

E

50 "EQUAL TO BOTH, AND ARMED FOR EITHER FIELD.”

racing, that it encourages the breed of superior horses. Nonsense. Is it to be supposed that any man will ever breed under the idea of winning a Steeple-race? Are not men of large fortune, who give their hundred, hundred-and-fifties, and two hundred for hunters sufficient to encourage the breed of superior horses? I will tell these persons what Steeple-racing does encourage. It induces certain men to be always on the look-out among breeders, farmers, gentlemen's studs, &c., for something they consider to possess first-rate Steeple-racing properties, to buy him at any price, to bring him out, lose a race or two, get heavy odds against him for some good thing, then, much to the surprise of most people, win it, win three or four of the best of these good Stakes, and then, when their horse is in the full confidence of their friends and the public, rob both by again losing-of course only by some pretended accidental circumstance. This in no shape alters public opinion as to the horse's capabilities, or his owner's wish to have won. He is again entered for another Stake, goes on well up to the time, never was better or more fit to go. The pot is now put on in good earnest, for this hocussing cannot last for ever with the same horse; every bet that can be got on is taken of course he loses, and so does every one but his own party. It will be now said he has a leg, is laid on the shelf till some opportunity is ripe to bring him out again, when, if intended to lose, he is "quite recovered," is "if any thing better than ever;" he goes, and loses: or, taking the other tack, he is stated to be regularly stumped up, but his owner is determined to give him one more fly. wins as it suits his party's book.

He now goes, and Success and a halter

to them! for, to fill the pockets of such a set, are some

EST MODUS IN REBUS.

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of the best horses the world produces sacrificed, and butchered to make them win if wanted to win, and dosed, to save appearances, when intended to lose.

If Steeple-racing was merely a race of two or three miles over a fair hunting line of country, it would perhaps be as good an amusement as any other race, with no more suffering to the horses engaged in it, and would in fact be a pretty sight. Why is it always made four, and often more miles? For this reason: those who make it a profession, and get horses for this express purpose, have by this a better chance of winning. Why are five, six, and seven hundred guineas given for particular horses for this purpose? Not because they are superior as hunters for a gentleman's riding, but because they possess extraordinary qualifications for this purpose: and this purpose is . what? sport, or the pleasure of seeing the horse win? Not a bit: win or lose, the purpose is to cheat the public. This the public will say is cruel to them: I say it "serves them right:" they should not bet about these things. I am quite sure of one thing, it is an unnecessary and wanton cruelty to horses, and this does not serve them right.

Matches against time is another precious mode of filling the pockets of a set of miscreantsrobbing the public, and subjecting a noble animal often to suffering and punishment at which humanity shudders. Matches against time might take place without any undue practice of cruelty, if the suffering of the animal was (which it never is) in such cases made any consideration. What he may be able to do with any ordinary suffering is not the calculation at all; but what extra-ordinary suffering and extra-ordinary punishment may force him to perform is calcu