CAUSE OF DETERIORATION 75 



that the present style of betting on the present style 

 of racing is fast ruining, if it have not already actually 

 ruined, the English horse. 



Supposing that the Governor of Victoria, the 

 Chief Justice of South Australia, and the reverend 

 gentlemen I have quoted, are all of them wrong ; 

 supposing, also, that the non-racing men I have 

 referred to are quite in error, it would be difficult to 

 reject the authority of Mr. Day, who shows that 

 almost what may be termed a ' thorough rot ' exists 

 in the English thoroughbred. ' Twenty-four out of 

 thirty-six hopelessly suffering from bad feet or 

 defective hocks ; unsoundness existing to a great 

 extent ; disease in most cases hereditary, and yearly 

 on the increase ; roaring and enlarged joints the 

 rule instead of the exception ; in no class of horse 

 is mortality so high, of which these are appalling 

 proofs ; heavy-shouldered, slack-loined, little-legged 

 brutes that would fall over a straw ; crooked-legged 

 and deformed sold for i,ooo or 1,500 guineas, but 

 not worth sixpence.' 



If Mr. Day be not wrong, would it not be well for 

 Governors and Judges and senators actively to dis- 

 courage a system which justifies Mr. Day's state- 

 ments ? Which is the more necessary — that oppor- 

 tunity should be continued for ' many a fair form to 

 quiver with unwomanly excitement, and many a fair 

 face to betray the influence of the gambling demon's 

 spell,' or that no opportunity should ever again be 

 given for enemies riding upon ponies to laugh at 



