THE TURF. 
more, we venture to pronounce the most mischievous 
effects to all classes of society. Talk of jockey-club 
regulations ! As well might Madame Yestris sit in 
judgment on short petticoats, or Lord Grey on the sin 
of nepotism, as a jockey-club attempt then to pass cen- 
sure on offences which they must have suffered to grow 
before their faces, if, indeed, they should have been 
so fortunate as all along to steer quite clear of them 
themselves. 
But let us look a little into these practices. In the 
first place, what is it that guides the leading men in 
their betting? Is it a knowledge of the horse they 
back either to win or to lose ? and is it his public 
running that directs their operations ? We fear not. 
Three parts of them know no more of a horse than a 
horse knows of them ; but it is from private information, 
purchased at a high price at a price which ordinary 
virtue cannot withstand that their books are made up. 
Again ; how do the second class of bettors act ? We 
reply they bet upon men and not upon horses; for so 
soon as they can positively ascertain that certain persons 
stand heavy against any one horse, that horse has no 
chance to win, unless, as it sometimes happens, he is 
too strong for his jockey, or the nauseating ball has not 
had the desired effect. He runs in front, it is true, for 
he can run to win ; but what is his fate ? Why, like 
the hindmost wheel of the chariot, he is 
" Cursed 
Still to be near, but ne'er to reach the first." 
240 
