POPULAR NOTIONS OF FITNESS. 91 



CHAPTER XL 



PREPARATION {continued). 



The public and their estimate of fitness — The duty imposed on the trainer — Evils 

 of running unprepared — Running "big" and "light" — How Mr. John 

 Scott beguiled the public ; instances : The Era, Michael Scotl — My father's 

 system and instances — Inferences drawn from the training of the pedestrian — 

 Prejudice of owners for " big " condition — Example in my own experience 

 of "big" and "light" preparation — Severe preparation not necessarily 

 harmful — Evils of "big" condition — Work done in old times — Instances in 

 support of my theory : Fugitive, Historian, Oxonian — Successes with my 

 stable in past times ; list of the stakes won, and of the winners ; horses pre- 

 pared by me and subsequently sold, and prices ; their subsequent perform- 

 ances — Abuse of severe preparation ; horses run too often —Comparison of 

 two- and three-year-old running : Weatherbound and Dulcibella — Reasons for 

 my insistence on " light " preparation — Any general rule necessarily imperfect 

 — Farming and training compared. 



No trainer, even the most sanguine, can ever hope to 

 bring his horse to the post in a condition to please all 

 parties. His employers are satisfied seldom, and other 

 people never. Before every race they are too big, like a 

 bullock, or too poor, or galloped or starved to death. But 

 the winner in whatever condition is unreservedly praised. 



There are two things we as trainers have to guard against : 

 the first is, the displeasure of our employers : the second, the 

 running of our horses unfit — both unwelcome things ; but of 

 the two, rather than do the latter knowingly, I would submit 

 as cheerfully as I could to the former. If you run half fit, 



