XU INTRODUCTION. 



mind being thus engaged for some years, I had given 

 up all thoughts respecting the management and condi- 

 dition of race-horses, until the year 1815; at which 

 time, the regiment, in which I have still the honour to 

 serve, was on foreign service, forming part of the 

 British Army of Occupation on the Continent. Horse- 

 racing being one of the great sporting amusements of 

 Englishmen, it soon became the order of the day 

 among many of the British Officers of the Army of 

 Occupation, both at Valenciennes and at St. Omer, 

 during the stay of our Army in France. The subscrip- 

 tions of the officers were liberal, and the plates and 

 stakes which were made by them were thought worth 

 winning ; so much so, that race-horses were sent for 

 from England : and during the last year of the Army's 

 being stationed on the continent, I think I shall not 

 exaggerate if I say, that altogether there were not less 

 than from thirty to forty race-horses (cock-tails and 

 hacks), in training at one time, on a heath called the 

 Bruyere, near the town of St. Omer. On this heath 

 was made a pretty good two-mile race-course, with a 

 stand, a rubbing-house, and other conveniences. 



As it was known to the officers of the regiment to 

 which I belonged, that in the early part of my life I 

 had been brought up in the stables, it also soon be- 

 came known to several of the officers of other regi- 

 ments ; and those of them who had horses engaged to 

 run, often applied to me for information how they were 

 to get their horses into a fit state for the race ; nor do 

 I hesitate to acknowledge, that from my having so long 



