188 ON TRAINING GROUNDS. 



The most extensive part of these mossy downs, 

 which forms the principal ground for the horses to 

 train upon, lays open to the west. Its Hmits in the 

 east are terminated by the walls of different enclosures. 

 The horses in going to this ground, have to pass 

 through a wicket (a large gate here would be prefer- 

 able, and much safer); the groom may then make 

 choice of his ground ; but immediately on the horses 

 passing through the wicket, if they turn to the left, 

 and walk for a quarter of a mile, they arrive at an 

 angle formed by other wall enclosures ; here, turning 

 again to the left, a good gallop can be had, finishing 

 with a gradual ascent to the Botley or round hills, 

 which is the extent of the ground in this direction. 

 This is a good gallop, and the pace being regulated 

 accordingly, a horse's pipes can be well opened here. 

 These downs are also sufficiently extensive to allow 

 plenty of room for long striding horses to sweat over, 

 without their experiencing any inconvenience, in turn- 

 ing, to put them out of their stride. 



Langton Wolds is the next ground to notice. 

 These wolds are divided by the high road leading from 

 the town of Malton. On the left of the road is the 

 training ground, and on the right of it is the race- 

 course. The distance from the training stables to the 

 ground is a mile or better; if this space of grovmd 

 were a level piece of turf, there could be no very great 

 objection to the distance ; but instead of this, the 

 horses must mostly walk upon the high road in going 

 from the stables on the left of Malton, to the ground, 



