A QUIET SPOT RECOMMENDED. 63 



As a matter of fact, there are merchant princes, both of 

 the city and provinces, who dare not see their own horses 

 except on the race-course or on Sunday for fear of being 

 recognised ; a disabihty that debars many others from joining 

 in the sport. The late Mr. Graham, the noted distiller, who 

 raced in princely style, was driven from the turf, thus losing the 

 only pleasure of his life in the way of sport, by the annoyance 

 of the attention of would-be friends and the intrusion of touts. 

 As for the latter merciless and wretched spies, many suffer 

 persecution at their hands ; for when they assemble in large 

 numbers it is not easy either to control or avoid them. 

 But if your ground be in such a spot as I have recommended, 

 you may and can prevent the appearance of these unvv-elcome 

 visitors ; a fact, if generally known, that might not only prevent 

 secessions from the turf, but induce many gentlemen to keep 

 racehorses who never owned one before. 



It is not as though this immunity from espionage were 

 restricted to one or two places. Hundreds of spots, equally 

 undisturbed, could be found, which at a small outlay might be 

 adapted for training grounds equal to any in the kingdom. 

 There is no need to rush into the enemy's camp. As it is, 

 owners more frequently go to the tout than the tout to them. 

 Indeed the rendezvous of this gentry are well known. There- 

 fore avoid them and train in a place "exempt from 

 public haunt," where by yourself, or with invited guests you 

 may have the pleasure of watching your horses gallop, when 

 and as often as you please, without dread of the incursion of 

 the arch-enemy of all racing. 



I will give an instance of what was once accomplished here 

 at Woodyates, which I venture to say could not have been 

 achieved at any resort of the tout, although I do not doubt 

 that others who train in quiet spots could record similar doings. 



