416 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



most, Trhether it make for liim or against him, 

 he may demand, at least, an equal degree of 

 credit for his own statements and assertions. 

 Notw'ithanding Chifney's profound skill in the 

 close and delicate points of a race-horse's 

 character, we are sometimes strongly inclined 

 to suspect his judgment, in relation to Escape, 

 and to adopt the opinion of his Royal High- 

 ness. It appears to us, that, for the two days 

 in question, at least, Escape's game was the 

 best of him ; and that, as it has naturally and 

 fairly happened in a thousand instances, he 

 was outfooted in the short race, and won the 

 long one by his stoutness ; for although, in the 

 last race, Chifney tells us he waited, they 

 must have gone the course through at a 

 choak-jade rate, since Skylark made such 

 strong play. Could this opinion be rationally 

 adopted, the question would be at rest for 

 ever ; but, even if not, Chifney's arguments 

 are both strong and rational, and must be 

 valid, until answered with equal reason and 

 strength. 



In order to satisfy the minds of those who, 

 perhaps, without mature consideration, had 

 backed his Horse at four and five to one on 

 one day, and betted four and five to one 

 against him the next, the Royal sportsman 

 appears to have done ail tiiat could be re- 

 quired of a man of honour, a gentleman, and 

 a prince. His Royal Highness put his ser- 

 vant to his oath on all the points in dispute, 

 and commanded him to submit himself unre- 

 servedly to the examination of his accusers. 



This was the last match in which his Royal 

 Highness was concerned in. 



LORD COLERAINE's OPINION OF NEWMARKET 

 JOCKIES, ETC. 



"We present the opinion of this noble lord, 

 on the system of the Turf, which prevailed in 



I his day, and which perhaps at the present is 

 not much altered for the better. The writer 

 I has had considerable experience in Horse- 

 ' racing, and was better known to the public 

 as " Colonel Hanger," than under the more 

 elevated title of Lord Coleraine. He was 

 at one time the companion of the Prince of 

 Wales, who it is said the Prince cut, from 

 some gross allusions contained in a toast which 

 he gave, and which the Prince thought was 

 disrespectful to the royal family. 



The Prince, though affable and courteous 

 in his manner, had always dignity enough to 

 resent impertinent familiarity; and from that 

 time, it is said, Lord Coleraine (then Major 

 Hanger) never entered the doors of Carlton 

 House. 



There are some men who pride themselves 

 in speaking or writing what they think ; yet 

 who a^not always willing to allow the same 

 indulgCTree for others. There may be some 

 truth in the writer's charge against the train- 

 ing grooms for their dishonesty and vulgarity ; 

 yet the latter charge, his Lordship will, we 

 believe, in the opinion of his readers, be not 

 considered wholly exempt from. However, 

 his knowledge of the Turf entitles him to be 

 listened to, and his observations, though 

 homely, may be considered as arising from 

 experience ; which is always more to be de- 

 depended on than speculative theories, how- 

 ever ingeniously they may be written. He 

 says : — 



" I shall touch but slightly on the method of 

 training Horses at Newmarket ; for, if 1 were 

 to enter into particulars, I might write a whole 

 volume on the absurdities I have seen prac- 

 tised there. All Horses, generally speaking, 

 are treated alike, unless ti^ey fortunately fall 

 into the hands of some trainer (the number 



