108 BREAKING. 



of speed and bottom, between young horses 

 calculated and trained for racing: but horses 

 (as well as women) are by the great and il- 

 lumnied effect of mpdern penetration, found 

 to be so much forwarder in the natural state 

 of their constitution, that they are brought 

 into use many years sooner in the present 

 than the past century ; having now not only 

 plates constantly run for by three years 'old, 

 but frequent matches and sweepstakes with 

 two years old and yearlings. 



In this general improvement (if it can be 

 so termed) I believe any observant or experi- 

 enced reader will coincide with me in opinion^ 

 and hazard the assertion, that many hundred 

 horses are annually crippled and irrecoverably 

 injured before they arrive at maturity ; that 

 is, before they arrive at a proper age for the 

 work to which they are so frequently most 

 injudiciously destined. In support of this 

 fact, no greater or m.ore indisputable autho- 

 rity need be adduced, than a reference to the 

 infinity of invalids to be daily seen on ail the 

 popular roads leading to the metropolis ; but 

 should a stronger proof be required, to meet 

 the opinions of the interested and iyicredulous^ 



