ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT 3 



his horses, EHs, to Doncaster in a van. How animals 

 are now despatched from one end of the country to 

 another, often by special train on the morning of a 

 race, so that those who dislike strange quarters should 

 be away from their stables for as short a time as possible, 

 need not be described ; nor is it necessary to dwell on 

 the immeasurable impetus which has been given to the 

 sport by the introduction of railways, telegraphs, and 

 the modern increase of newspapers. 



A few words may be interpolated as to the 

 serviceability of racing as a means to an end. The 

 English thoroughbred horse is the most valuable 

 animal in the world. Five thousand five hundred 

 guineas was paid for La Fleche as a yearling, and as a 

 brood mare she fetched 12,600 guineas; 30,000 

 guineas was refused for Ormonde ; that sum would 

 not have bought Isinglass, and it is credibly reported 

 that signed cheques with blanks left for figures have 

 been proffered to the lucky possessors of other famous 

 animals. The only method by which the excellence of a 

 horse can be demonstrated is by racing him. Opponents 

 of the sport, who do not fail to recognise the value 

 of the blood, have expressed the belief that the 

 exhibition of racehorses at agricultural shows and 

 similar functions would meet every requirement ; 

 but this is not the case, for the reason that the 

 creature's worth depends upon the possession of other 

 than external qualities. One does not want a horse 

 merely to look at. Make and shape are not to be 



B 2 



