INTRODUCTORY 



AS loiii^' as tlic liorst- lasts, and tliat will l)e assuredly for ever, racinp; will exist. 

 It is in the iiatinc of man to want to test the stren()th. stamina and speed of 

 the lii^lit horse, and it is impossible to imayine that any sane and healthy 

 person, watehing the nohle animal strive his utmost to cover the ground as fast as 

 possible, will fail to admire the wonderful courage that he displays. Racing is hy no 

 means the "amhlinii' oame that ultra-moralists choose to think it is, and wisli to make 

 everybody else believe. Tlu-re are more people, far more people, who go to the race- 

 course to .see the horses run, and for the joy that it gives them to see the noble animal 

 putting forth all his jjower to win the race, than there are to gamble on his chances. 

 There are, also, other people who think that the suggestion that racing is encour- 

 aged for the sake of improving the breed is a myth. It is nothing of the kind, for 

 there is iu)t a ty])e of horse that is not improved b\ a dash of thoroughbred Ijlood. 

 It would be far l)etter if the people who .so bitterly oj)j)Ose racing would iiKpiire into 

 the thing, and on actual experience base their opinions. The man Avho condenms a 

 sport that delights hundreds of thousands of his fellow-creatures without making in- 

 (piiry or investigation is fairly entitled to l)e considered more fooli.sli than wise. J^ike 

 all other nuindane things, racing is lial)le to abuse; sometimes it falls into undesirable 

 hands and is mad(> an instrument for money-getting, at all hazanls and in any way. 

 I5nt such a thing is the rarest exception and not bv any means the general rule. 



Uacing properly conducted, conducted as the chief chilis in all conntrii-s conduct 

 it, is a health-giving and manly |)astime, which gives the l)usy merchant and professional 

 man surcease from worries aiul care. It gives him rest in mind and peace in bodv. 

 It makes man strong and courageous and benefits the entire communitv. bv creating 

 a love for the animal and broadening the minds of men. So far as gambling is con- 

 cerned, people who ai'c bent that way will speculate on anything: they will make the 

 most innocent things instruments to gratify their inclinations. Hut considei'ing the 

 tremendous mimber ol' p(()|)lc who have a lo\(' for this |)astime, there is not half the 

 daniao'c and iniiii-\' caused b\- wau'criuii' tliat thei'c" is in man\' ollu'r thiuiis that the woi-jd 

 chooses to considci- legitimate. 



TTou('\( r, it is not the object of this ai'ticle, or of this book, to preach a sermon, 

 [{alher is it the desire and wish to encourage and piomote the interests of the ])astinu' 

 that has existed from the dark ages, and will exist as long as the world shall last, Puri- 

 tans to the contrary, notw ithsianding. It iirings out the iiest (jualities of tlie horse 



