6| THE TRAINING GROUND. 



About a week before the Chester meeting, Starter and 

 Our Mary Ann, the property of the same owner, were tried 

 for the cup, and the latter found to be by far the better of the 

 two. The result was telegraphed in cipher to the owner, then 

 at Newmarket. He at once went into the ring and did as 

 follows : On asking the price of Staj'ter he was offered 

 700 to 100, supplemented with an offer to take 800 to lOO- 

 The owner laid the odds, and being asked to do so again, laid 

 them again, when the taker a book-maker, obligingly offered 

 to lay 1000 to 10 against Oiir Mary Ann. These odds the 

 owner took, and other bets followed until he had in all 2500/. 

 to 27/. \os. laid against the mare — the two animals ultimately 

 standing in the betting. Our Mary Attn 1000 to 15, Starter 

 8 to I. 



Now mark what would have taken place had the horses 

 been at a public place and the immense difference in results 

 to the owner. Immediately after the trial, there would have 

 been a race to the telegraph office, and the lynx-eyed 

 fraternity would have telegraphed the result to thousands of 

 people within a few hours. When the owner would back 

 his mare, he would have been offered 700 to 100 and been 

 told it was a good price; and should he not like it, the book- 

 makers would have offered to take 800 to 100 themselves and 

 have finished by offering 1000 to 10 against Starter. 



The frequent occurrence of disappointments similar to that 

 which was in this case prevented, will, I think, clinch my 

 arguments in favour of quiet training quarters for all that 

 race cither for profit or, it may be said, their own pleasure. 



