202 ON THE RACE COURSE. 



in or adjacent to the town, which is a great advantage; 

 for as I have aheady noticed, horses give their races 

 more kindly in running to their stables, than in run- 

 ning from them. 



But with respect to the making of race-courses, they 

 are sometimes made in the form of the figure 8, or of any 

 other figure that may be convenient, of from one mile 

 to four ; fortunately, however, a course not exceeding a 

 mile in extent is not very frequently met with. There 

 are too many turns in a round course of this length. 

 A long striding horse running on such a course is too 

 frequently turning, or if the turns are but few, they 

 are mostly difficult for such a horse to make at his 

 best pace. The little or middle-sized hearty horse, that 

 is a pretty round goer, has a short but quick stride, 

 gives his race kindly, is easily held, and is ready at 

 his turns, is the sort of horse most likely to come first 

 on such a course. Indeed, a large long striding horse, 

 and more particularly a free runner, cannot be got to 

 run in his best form, with safety, round so small an 

 extent of ground as a mile. The owner would be a bad 

 judge who would bring his horse to post, to run on so 

 small a course. 



In making a two mile round course, the first thing 

 to be considered, after having surveyed the ground, is, 

 whether the horses shall have to run to the right hand 

 or to the left. This will depend on the most advan- 

 tageous way the ground can be chosen. Should there 

 be a very steep piece of ground, in any part of it, and 

 more particularly should it be in that part where strong 



