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CHAPTER VI. 



RACING IN THE 'PROVINCES.* 



The advantage of the gate-money or enclosed meetings which 

 have sprung up of late j^ears is manifest in the security given 

 to managers for guaranteeing large sums of added money, thus 

 enabling owners of horses to race at less expense than on the 

 open courses, where a large proportion of the stakes must 

 necessarily come out of their own pockets. 



The only other sources of revenue on which clerks of 

 courses of the old-fashioned open meetings can depend are 

 the sums obtained for admission to the stands, rings, &c., at 

 a tariff which the masses are unable or unwilling to pay ; the 

 entrance money to the ground for carriages only ; such rates in 

 aid as can be screwedout of neighbouring residents, tradesmen, 

 or county or borough members, and the half surplus of the 

 price realised by winners of selling races ; all these being what 

 may be mathematically termed ' uncertain quantities,' depending 

 on many and fluctuating circumstances, and rendering close 

 calculation impossible ; whereas to the wholly enclosed courses, 

 situated as they must be within easy reach of a dense population, 

 every soul desirous of admission must contribute either in the 

 shape of annual subscription to the club — if club there be — 

 or by the entrance fee of a shilling or half a crown for passing 

 the wickets ; the right of entree to public stands or paddock 

 necessitating an additional outlay. 



The chief factor, therefore, for the consideration of promoters 

 is, whether the love of racing has a sufficient hold on the 

 inhabitants of a particular district to induce them to come in 



