APOLOGY FOR INTRODUCING THE TOPIC. 



291 



force to repress what we have here discusssed as " the minor 

 evils of the race-course." 



That I, as a trainer writing on training, have ventured to 

 devote a chapter to these matters may be thought to demand 

 some apology. The fact will not, I trust, be viewed as an 

 attempt to set myself up as a moralist. But writing on the 

 racehorse, and incidentally and necessarily on certain turf 

 matters, I hope it may not be deemed an excess of zeal to 

 point out those blots, which to a certain extent exist only 

 because their existence is not known, or its grave conse- 

 quences are not fully appreciated. The removal of the 

 anomalies I have here glanced at, is all that is wanted to 

 complete that improvement in the customs of the race-course 

 which I have shown has been progressive if slow ; an im- 

 provement that it may be confidently hoped will be carried 

 out by the competent authorities, if only the general desire 

 for such a reform be pressed upon their notice. 



V 2 



