PREFACE. 



In bringing before the public a work that has for its 

 specific subject the training of the racehorse, and incident- 

 ally offers some observations on turf matters generally, the 

 author feels the need of its indulgence. 



The experience gathered as the result of thirty years un- 

 wearied labour in the management of a large racing-stud, is, 

 he feels, the best apology he can put forward for the attempt 

 to write comprehensively on matters never before so treated 

 by a trainer. In order to inform, to please, and to encourage 

 the student, a thorough knowledge of the subject must be 

 supplemented by facts clearly stated, and by arguments 

 based on experiences that have stood the test of time. It 

 is perhaps too common to represent technical or professional 

 matters as full of mystery to the unlearned. Such a pre- 

 tence would be out of place here. Our subject is one easy 

 of comprehension, and it is the intention and desire of the 

 writer to apply to it the simple treatment of which it is 

 susceptible ; to set forth practical knowledge and important 

 and ascertained truths deduced from daily observation in a 

 manner intelligible to the ordinary reader. 



