76 England's horses, 



to expect the continuance of a national grant, such as royal 

 plates, where the system they adopt and have created to 

 further private ends conduces to the consummation of 

 results at variance with, and non-conformal to the objects 

 that originally instituted such donations to the turf; for it 

 is generally conceded, even by those who rush into unten- 

 able and intemperate assumptions and generalities in sup- 

 port of an effete and degenerating regime, that the royal 

 plates ffiil altogether in bringing to the post now such 

 fields and such horses as in the days of their novitiate 

 marked the practical utility of their operation. 



It is maintained that the early racing of immature blood 

 horses has mainly contributed to defeat the object of those 

 time-honoured grants. For the inducements to find out 

 the racing merits of thorough-bred foals is under the pre- 

 sent order of things too cogent and ample to hope for the 

 sustenance of grand youngsters, until more advanced age 

 and indurated muscles might have a greater chance of 

 withstanding the terrible rigours of the training stable. 



It is argued with pecuniary force that the sum of £2 10s. 

 a week for each race-horse's training is a considerable item, 

 and that, if breeders and owners of youngsters don't apply 

 themselves to secure some of the prizes awarded to success- 

 ful juvenile competitors they can only hope for immense 

 monetary outlay and great loss. Well, doubtless, this is so. 

 But what does it suggest ? Simply, that, although the 

 turf left to its own operations, unimpeded by Governmental 

 interference, may, under its present code of operations, 

 entirely fail to supply the country generally with the sound 

 and stout horses of former days, its internal interests are 

 of sufficient magnitude to induce its votaries to produce 

 occasionally the finest specimens of the English blood horse. 

 So long as fine thorough-bred stallions can be found, and 

 these it is clear the English turf will continue to produce 



