THE TURF. 
to be hard, although occasionally deep. But the great 
superiority of this ground consists in the variety of its 
courses eighteen in number adapted to every variety 
in age, weight, or qualifications of the horses, and hence 
of vast importance in match-making. Almost every 
race-horse has a marked peculiarity in his running. 
A stout horse ends his race to advantage up hill ; 
a speedy jade down hill ; another goes best over a 
flat, whilst there are a few that have no choice of 
ground and some whom none will suit. The New- 
market judge's box being on wheels, it is moved 
from one winning post to another, as the races are 
fixed to end, which is the case nowhere but at New- 
market.* 
The office of judge at Newmarket varies from that 
of others filling similar situations. He neither sees 
the jockeys weighed out or in, as the term is, neither 
is he required to take notice of them or their horses 
in the race. He judges, and proclaims the winner, by 
the colour that of every jockey who rides being handed 
to him before starting. Indeed, the horses are seldom 
seen by him until the race begins, and, in some cases, 
till it nearly ends ; as they generally proceed from their 
* Great improvements have from time to time been effected on New- 
market heath, but particularly within the last twenty years, by the exertions 
of the Duke of Portland and Lord Lowther. These have been chiefly 
accomplished by manuring, sheep-folding, and paring and burning, by 
which means a better sort of covering to the surface has been procured ; 
and likewise by destroying the tracts of old roads, particularly on that part 
called the Flat, which is undoubtedly the best racing ground in the world. 
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