THE ENGAGEMENTS OF YEARLINGS. 137 



in this way, would be chiefly because I should know that no 

 one would be able to oppose me with better looking, or, from 

 their breeding, horses more likely to run ; whilst many would 

 bring into the field horses which, comparatively speaking, 

 would be brutes. Were I induced to break the rule, it would 

 only be to put a well-bred colt or filly of moderate looks in 

 the Derby or Oaks. 



Now, how very seldom do we see horses engaged in this 

 way. Rather do we not notice continually the reverse 

 adopted ? We see the breeder of, say half a dozen yearlings, 

 or the purchaser of a like number at indiscriminate prices, no 

 matter what their breeding or looks, engage them all alike in 

 the best stakes against the most fashionably and best bred 

 horses in England. It is quite true one or other of them 

 may be good. But he must be a bold and sanguine man to 

 expect success as the result, that engages horses after this 

 fashion. Since the introduction of the small entrance fee, 

 stakes that formerly had but a few subscribers have now 

 many, and in most races some good horses are generally 

 to be found entered. What then is your chance of winning 

 but a very poor one with a "weed" or an unfashionably 

 bred colt or filly.? Moreover, many of the yearlings that 

 are thus heavily engaged, have been well tried before the 

 day of closing the stakes, whilst others are receiving an 

 allowance that yours may not be entitled to. Under such 

 a load of disadvantages, who can hope to win with anything 

 but the best, or nearly the best, of his year .'' 



But the yearlings being engaged in the hope of winning 

 something, the temptation to run often follows as a necessary 

 consequence ; and by doing battle against superior animals 

 your own becomes stale, and unable to win other races in 

 which, having different 'opponents, there would be chances in 



