552 A SHORT HISTORY, ETC. 



punishment is no longer a light one, for expulsion from one track 

 means expulsion from all. 



The future of the trotting turf is full of bright omens ; rowdyism 

 and drunkenness are being banished from our leading courses, and 

 the races of the Grand Circuit are witnessed by thousands of spec- 

 tators, few of whom have a dollar in the pool-box, while beauty 

 and fashion fill the benches so long empty, and the sport is 

 relished fur its own sake, and not for the gambler's gains. The 

 clouds of prejudice and suspicion, which so long overhung it, are 

 drifting rapidly away, and many of our leading scholars and thinkers 

 are beginning to see that the turf is not as bad as it has been 

 depicted. In a recent address President Clark, of Amherst College, 

 makes the following sensible remarks : " With suitable preparation 

 and management, not only does a healthy horse suffer no distress 

 from trotting a moderate distance at the top of his speed, but enjoys 

 it as highly as his driver. The match trotter is peculiarly gifted 

 with powers of locomotion, and his wonderful mechanism can only 

 be appreciated when in full operation. To most persons a closely- 

 contested trot is a beautiful and attractive spectacle, and experience 

 proves that nothing affords a more delightful or harmless amuse- 

 ment for the people, provided the surroundings and associations 

 are of the proper kind. The usual accompaniments of the race- 

 course — quarrelling, profanity, intoxication, gambling, and public 

 betting — may and should always be everywhere forbidden and pre- 

 vented. The morals of the community are of more consequence 

 than the breeds of horses. There is no more occasion for immor- 

 ality in connection with a trotting match, than in connection with 

 an exhibition of skill and swiftness in skating." 



But will these bright omens be fulfilled ? Who can tell ? One 

 thing is certain : the fate of the turf rests not with its enemies, but 

 its friends. The outrageous Edwin Forrest case at Utica, last year, 

 inflicted a far deadlier wound than bigoted opposition or rancorous 

 diatribe could possibly have done, and if the races are to be decided 

 in the pool-box and not upon the track, if horses are to be pulled in 

 order to save records, if drivers are allowed to form corrupt com- 

 binations, and the interests of the owners are treated as naught, the 

 turf will sink to a lower condition than it was before the National 

 Association was formed. But if the reform movement which was 

 then inaugurated is curried on in the spirit in which it was begun; 

 if fraud, when exposed, is rigorously punished, no matter who may 

 be the sufi'crer; if the owners and breeders come to tiie front and 

 the gamblers are sent to the rear, then shall the trotting turf become 

 a blessing and not a curse, and when hereafter the foreigner visiting 

 these shores shall ask to see the productions of American genius 

 and enterprise, he shall behold none more truly characteristic, none 

 more worthy of his admiration, than the Trotting Horse of America. 



