292 ATTACKS ON THE TURF. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



ATTACKS ON THE TURF ; AND CONCLUSION. 



Frequency of attacks on the turf — Contrasts in its favour %\ith other occupations — 

 Professor Low's attack specially considered : errors of his statements and 

 their deductions shown ; the alleged cruelty to the horse refuted by contrast 

 with his actual treatment ; wasting not injurious ; his indiscriminate charges 

 against trainers and jockeys shown to be groundless ; instance of Chifney — 

 Absurdity of his allegations against owners laying against their horses dis- 

 played, and the real origin of public favourites shown — Conclusion. 



It is SO common an expression that the practices on the 

 turf are corrupt, and its frequenters actuated by sinister 

 motives, that I feel I ought, in bringing my work to a 

 conclusion, to say something to exhibit the fallacy of this 

 notion. To defend or excuse those of my own calling, and the 

 others more or less directly connected with it, is no part of my 

 intention ; for defence or excuse would imply an admission 

 that the attacks on the turf have some solid basis, which is 

 not the case. My object is merely to show, by contrast with 

 other occupations, how utterly erroneous is the popular 

 estimate of my own in this respect. 



Amongst trainers and jockeys there may be those who 

 are guilty of malpractices, as there are offenders in all 

 sections of the community ; but I think it is not too much 

 to say, that the worst practices on the turf are outdone 

 daily in other occupations. We have dishonest bankers, 



