202 WEIGHTS AND DISTANCES. 



dififerent light over a distance of ground, who otherwise might 

 die unknown to fame. It was by the accidental running in 

 this way that the latent merits of two supposed veritable 

 cowards were discovered. 



It may be argued by lovers of short courses that the 

 shorter the course the oftener the horses can run ; and the 

 lighter the weight, the less danger of breaking them down. 

 But those that have seen a fractious horse with a boy in the 

 saddle, will form a different opinion ; and will think that the 

 chances of injury in such hands, more than outweigh the ad- 

 vantages previously rated so highly. I have already named 

 that Noisy was beaten in the Chester Cup through the in- 

 competence of a lad of 5 st. 4 lbs. on his back, and may 

 add that, for the same reason, he lost the City and Sub- 

 urban. There was in this race a false start, when he, in 

 company with another horse, ran the whole distance as if for 

 the actual race. He was taken again to the post, and the real 

 start took place immediately on his reaching it ; and not 

 having had time to recover from the effects of his former race 

 — for race it was virtually — he only ran third, when he should 

 have won. 



I have no doubt if the races for three-quarters of a mile 

 were proscribed for all but two-year-olds, and mile races sub- 

 stituted, we should find as many entries and as many runners 

 at the post as nov/ run the shorter course. Admiral Rous 

 himself, admitted that short races spoiled jockeys and ruined 

 the starter ; both evils most assuredly requiring a remedy : 

 the one for the sake of the jockey, who otherwise can only 

 remain so in name ; and the other on the broad principle, 

 that every man has a right to the fair start which these urchins 

 now prevent. But let us have the admiral's own words on 

 this important question. 



