364 THE JOCKEY CLUB 



matters relating to the sport which they pursue, 

 should throw open their doors to uncongenial followers 

 or promoters of the same sport, and be put to the in- 

 convenience of social incongruity. There is no just 

 cause or impediment why a suggestion should not be 

 borrowed from the original French arrangement, 

 whereby the ' Societe ' and business were kept sepa- 

 rate from the ' Cercle ' and sociality ; why there 

 should not be in this country a ' Turf Society ' to 

 which anybody might belong, and which should deal 

 generally with all business connected with the Turf, 

 and distinct from it, as a social Club, the present 

 Jockey Club, a certain number of whose members 

 should be ipso facto members of the Committee of 

 the Turf Society, and whose Stewards should have 

 the power of veto in all cases of proposals originating 

 with the Society. In this way the Club might pre- 

 serve its undoubted right to be as private and even as 

 exclusive as it pleases, and might keep intact its pres- 

 tige and authority and usefulness (which would be 

 seriously endangered if nothing more than a property 

 qualification or a prominent connection with the Turf 

 were considered to give Tom, Dick, or Harry a claim 

 to membership). 



We have seen that in many respects the Jockey 

 Club has been, from time immemorial, the best con- 

 ceivable governing body for the Turf ; but we must not 

 forget that under its auspices many abuses have been 

 permitted, and even encouraged. It sanctioned for a 



