DIFFICULTY OF PROFITING BY IT. 63 



Therefore, to time a trial and then make allowances for 

 this or that discrepancy in time owing to this or that 

 circumstance, would be a most complicated undertaking, 

 and one which I should not recommend any one to at- 

 tempt, unless for mere self-gratification. 



It is frequently objected that time is always taken 

 abroad with very great success, in determining the re- 

 spective merits of racehorses ; but I must object to this 

 that the climate, state of the ground, atmosphere, &c., 

 are all diametrically opposed to those of England ; and 

 therefore, that what may be a correct test in one 

 country may not be a correct test in another. 



It is a matter of fact that in America, India, 

 Jamaica, &c., exported English platers can make 

 better time than first-class racehorses are able to do in 

 Great Britain over our very best and soundest courses, 

 which I apprehend can only be accounted for by the 

 rarity of the atmosphere in those countries ; for no one 

 will, I presume, hold for one moment that three stones 

 would bring a Derby or Leger winner and a colonial 

 plater on a par ! 



The trial over, the horses should be walked home 

 with their rugs on, and after being well dressed, and 

 made generally comfortable, should be allowed as 

 much to eat and drink as they please, and then be 

 shut up for three or four hours, after which they should 

 be taken out for a stroll, when nothing more will have 

 to be done for that day. 



If they have been overdone, and appear languid, a 

 slight tonic, such as equal parts of gentian and black 



