210 HORSES AND RIDIXa. 



of our turf and our racehorses. It will not I think 

 be disputed that betting has a tendency to very 

 largely increase the number of our race meetings, 

 and in consequence the number of our racehorses. 



This, in a country where the supply of horses is 

 of value, is a benefit, and it is about the only benefit 

 conferred, in my opinion, on the country by betting. 

 It does not in any way conduce to producing finer or 

 better specimens, except indirectly by causing a larger 

 number to be bred, and there being consequently a 

 greater quantity to pick from. But except in that 

 manner, it has a tendency to deteriorate the breed of 

 animals by causing many inferior animals to be bred 

 from which would otherwise have been discarded. 



The system of handicapping or placing different 

 weights on horses competing in the same race is 

 inseparable from betting, because otherwise there 

 would not be sufficient uncertainty attending the 

 results to enable bookmakers to offer bets to the 

 extent which they now do. 



Now in a handicap it is by no means the best 

 horse which is likely to win, but the horse whose 

 merit the handicapper or person who adjusts the 

 weights is least acquainted with, and therefore in 

 order to win a great race of this sort, it is not so 

 necessary to have a thorough good horse, as to keep 

 other people in ignorance of how good the horse is 

 that you purpose running. 



The result of this is that many horses are trained 



