168 THE TURF 



tion ; the object of a whole life of industry 

 and integrity among our forefathers, is now 

 attempted to be obtained in as many weeks 

 or months as it formerly required years to 

 effect/ This fatal passion has, indeed, taken 

 fast hold on a great body of the people, and 

 what is called a ' levanter ' is perhaps a less 

 rare occurrence from the corn-market, the 

 hop-market, or 'the alley, 7 than from the 

 betting-ring or Tattersall's. But we are told 

 that betting 



'Though no science, fairly worth the seven,' 



is the life of racing, and that without it the 

 turf would soon fall into decay. To a cer- 

 tain extent there may be some truth in this 

 doctrine; nevertheless betting is the germ 

 which gives birth to all the roguery that 

 has of late lowered this department of sport 

 in the eyes of all honourable men. The 

 Scripture phrase, in short, is now every day 

 verified, the race not being to the swift, but 

 to the horse on whom the largest sums stand 

 in certain person? books. Indeed, it was 

 not long since asserted by a well-known 

 rider and owner of race-horses, deep in 

 turf secrets, that if Eclipse were here now, 



