.—This term, in its particular and most confined signification, implies the person who actually rides a horse for PLATE, MATCH, SUBSCRIPTION, SWEEPSTAKES, or any other PRIZE; but custom and provincial forms have been productive of local deviations. To say in one district, that any man is "a good jockey," means no more, than that he is a good HORSEMAN. In another, to say he is "quite A JOCKEY," is to communicate an idea, that he is very little, if any, better than a swindler, and exceedingly well qualified to jockey any person with whom he has a trading transaction. Horse-dealers, till within the last half century, passed under the regular denomination of jockies in every market town and country fair in the kingdom; from which indefinite description they are now relieved by the kind intention of his Majesty's Ministers, who have since STAMPED them with a badge of professional dignity, and enjoined an annual pecuniary contribution for the distinction.
Jockey, in the present universal acceptation of the word with the superior classes of society, as well as the sporting world at large, is applied merely to the RIDERS of RUNNING HORSES; upon the prevailing superiority of whose speed, and the untainted integrity of the JOCKIES who are entrusted to regulate that SPEED, immense sums annually depend. Where so much unlimited confidence is reposed, it is almost natural to conclude, an adequate integrity would be insured. Time, that unerring monitor, and invariable criterion of truth, has long since demonstrated the fallacy of such philosophic and philanthropic expectation: the depravity of human nature has so repeatedly rendered the experiment abortive, that numbers, upon the stroke of whose whip, or the regulation of whose rein, thousands upon thousands were frequently depending, have finished the career of life, without a garment, without a shilling, without the common necessaries of life, and without one friendly finger of commiseration to close the eye of contrite misery, at the tremendous moment of passing that "bourne from whence no traveller returns;" while many other professors of the same art die possessed of an immensity of property. Whether one has been more fortunate than another in always being on the right side, or more fortunate in escaping detection, it is not the privilege or intent of these pages to explore; suffice it, therefore, to observe, that the HONOR, PROBITY, and personal INTEGRITY of a JOCKEY, should, like the VIRTUE of a WOMAN, be not only pure, but unsuspected. Although it is well known large fortunes have been acquired by some individuals intimately and secretly connected with the turf and its dependencies, yet it is not likely that JOCKIES, and their numerous emissaries, should accumulate wealth, unless a very considerable proportion of certainty was invariably annexed to the speculation. See Horse Racing, Turf, and Training.
JOCKEY CLUB
—is a sporting establishment of the higher order, originally instituted, and still held, at Newmarket, composed of noblemen, gentlemen, and the most distinguished sporting characters in the kingdom, who are elected by ballot, for the better exclusion of such as may be thought improper persons to be admitted members of so honorable and eminent a society. The Jockey Club, in their collective capacity, are considered the only supreme court to which any SPORTING APPEAL can be made; and their award or decision is abided by as final, whenever solicited. All transactions within the official departments of the Stewards, the Keeper of the Match Book, the Judge, and every subordinate, is regulated by a system of invariable punctuality, equal to the first offices in the State; in confirmation of which, the following are introduced as well worthy of being known and admired (for the equity of their adoption) in every part of the world.
RULES and ORDERS.
Respecting Riders.—Every person who shall ride at Newmarket for PLATE, SWEEPSTAKES, or MATCH, shall be obliged to weigh when he comes in, allowing two pounds above the weight, and no more. Every rider who shall neglect to obey this resolution, is guilty of contempt of the orders of this Club, and shall be disqualified from RIDING hereafter at Newmarket; unless any gentleman, or his rider, shall declare, before starting, that the rider is above the weight allowed of by the aforesaid resolution.
Forfeits.—The forfeits of all bets shall be paid according to the proportion in which the principals compromise their matches.
Members of the Coffee House.—Any person desirous of being admitted into the Coffee Room, Newmarket, must be proposed by a Member of the Jockey Club, and his name put over the chimney and door the day before he is to be ballotted for; that there must be at least twelve Members present at the ballot, and three black balls exclude.
Horses entered for Two or more Prizes.—The owner of every horse, &c. entered to run for two or more prizes on the same day, shall, for the future, be obliged to declare to the Keeper of the Match Book, before eight o'clock in the evening, preceding the day of running, which of the said prizes he intends to start his horse for; and the said Keeper of the Match Book shall immediately declare it in the Coffee Room.
Annual Dinner.—To meet annually at dinner on the day preceding the King's Birth Day. That three Members of the Club shall be appointed Stewards, and to commence their office on the fourth of June annually. One new Steward to be appointed every year, on the third day of June, by the Steward who quits on that day, subject to the approbation of the Members of the Jockey Club then present. The senior Steward to quit his office on the third of June annually.