NEVER PERSEVERE IN A BAD CAUSE. 83 



weight ; we have proved he can go a choking pace for 

 four miles with 9st., but another stone might stop him. 

 There is a certain weight at which most horses shine 

 at certain distances, perhaps at all lengths, though this 

 by no means is to be considered a general case. We 

 have found our horse run well four miles with 9st. : 

 we have found out what he can do well ; but interest 

 or curiosity induces us to see if we can find out what 

 he can do better. To ascertain this, let us consider, 

 or rather try and prove, whether his running on under 

 this weight is occasioned in the greatest degree by his 

 game, stamina, and a certain turn of speed, or by his 

 peculiar adaptation to and powers of carrying weight. 

 He must possess all these qualities in a high degree, 

 we are aware ; but this does not quite bring us to 

 what we want, though if we were to make the follow- 

 ing trial we should come pretty near the thing. 



We know our horse cannot run short lengths. 

 When I say we know, I mean supposing the owner of 

 the horse to be somewhat of my way of thinking in 

 such matters : there are some men who would not 

 know, or be persuaded of the fact : let them run their 

 pets on, it will be all the better for somebody, but I 

 opine not for themselves or owners. I say we know, 

 because our nag has run two or three times third and 

 fourth at such lengths. The trainer may give reasons 

 enough why the horse did not go to the front in these 

 races " Owing to the frost or the snow, or a bruised 

 foot, or a little cold, the badness of the weather, or a 

 something, the horse was a little short of work ; or 

 the course did not suit him ; or if he had been made 

 a little more use of early in the race, or a vice versa ; 

 or if, something else ; the race would have come off 

 differently ;" or anything but what in nine cases out 



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