THE TURF. 
stables to the saddling-house by a circuitous rout. The 
best possible regulations are adopted for the proper 
preservation of the ground during the running, and 
we know of nothing to be found fault with, unless it 
be the horsemen being allowed to follow the race-horses 
up the course, which injures the ground when it is 
wet. It is true, a very heavy iron roller is employed 
upon it every evening in the meetings, but this cannot 
always be effective. 
The racing ground on the heath has been the pro- 
perty of the Jockey Club since the year 1753. A great 
advantage is gained here by giving the power of pre- 
venting obnoxious persons coming upon it during the 
meetings ; and it would be well if that power were 
oftener exerted. Betting-posts are placed on various 
parts of the heath, at some one of which the sportsmen 
assemble immediately after each race, to make their 
bets on the one that is to follow. As not more than 
half an hour elapses between the events, the scene is of. 
the most animated description, and a stranger would 
imagine that all the tongues of Babel were let loose 
again. No country under the heavens, however, pro- 
duces such a scene as this ; and he would feel a difficulty 
in reconciling the proceedings of those gentlemen of the 
betting-ring with the accounts he might read the next 
morning in the newspapers of the distressed state of 
England, or that money was scarce anywhere. " What 
do you bet on this race, my lord?" says a vulgar- 
looking man, on a shabby hack, with " a shocking bad 
