DETERIORATION OF THE HORSE IN ENGLAND 35 



possible to cherish the delusion that the three-year- 

 olds were not as bad ; that it was no better when we 

 came to the two-year-olds, where the disappointment 

 was all the greater because so much was expected. 



Captain Upton quotes an article some few years 

 ago in the Times which says that the qualities of the 

 English racehorse were certainly on the decrease, 

 and aged running horses and mares had disappeared 

 from our racecourses, although yearlings offered 

 under the hammer were on the average growing 

 larger and stronger ; but he points out that the 

 appearance of strength is fallacious, and that big- 

 ness is no criterion — a view now abundantly demon- 

 strated. 



Mr. Joe Thompson, known throughout Australia 

 as a leading bookmaker, universally respected, who 

 has lately practised in England, wrote towards the 

 end of 1903 that there were then very few long- 

 distance horses in England, and he thought the 

 Frenchmen could beat the English easy ; but that 

 that year at Ascot for the greatest long-distance 

 weight-for-age race the English were represented by 

 not even good handlcappers. The consequence was 

 that the Frenchmen, with only ordinary horses, won 

 easily. 



I don't suppose that in all Australia there is any 

 man whose word would be taken before Mr. Thomp- 

 son's, and his assertion that the Frenchmen, with 

 only ordinary horses, won easily is very startling 

 evidence as to English inferiority. 



