SELLING RACES 123 



not long before has figured largely among the entries 

 for great stakes. The decadence of a promising but 

 deceptive two-year-old has here been traced ; but 

 horses come to run in selling races later in life. Possibly, 

 for some mysterious reason, they have lost their form ; 

 perhaps they show a more or less pronounced tendency 

 to go wrong in the wind ; it may be that a leg has 

 gone and been patched up, or else shows signs of 

 going. From some cause or other it appears urgently 

 desirable to get rid of them while they retain a scrap 

 of form and reputation ; and the doubtful animal is put 

 into a sellingr race. Some screw must be loose or he 

 would not be there, is the natural deduction ; but 

 many who want to bet will reply that he has "never 

 run in such company before," and "at any rate ought 

 to beat this lot." Thus one object of latter day 

 sport, the making up of a race which may lead to 

 an exciting struggle (and possibly to a brilliant display 

 of horsemanship) is fulfilled. 



It will at once be seen how readily such a system 

 might be turned to a source of very possible profit by 

 what are called "astute practitioners." Place a really 

 smart horse in a selling plate, a horse that could win 

 in good company, he will only have platers — the term 

 is one of reproach — to beat, he is sure to win, and his 

 friends may bet, as the phrase goes, " till the cows 

 come home." The plan has often been carried out 

 with profitable results — supposing that two or three 

 other owners are not playing the same game at the 



