AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 69 



The truth is, the race-course is not iu any true sense, the 

 ally of agriculture. It is a thing by itself. It has its own 

 laws and its own inspiration and its own associations. It is 

 offering a high premium for a forced lesuU; not for any 

 quality of work that is natural to the horse. Neither the 

 owner nor the trainer nor the spectator nor the horse gains 

 anything useful by the trial of speed and endurance. The 

 care and trainino; of the animal for the trot ao:ainst time are 

 all extras — outside of any call of duty. They are what no 

 farmer, as such, has an interest in. His $200 horse, which is 

 trained to the plough and harrow and cart, and can take his 

 family to church at a ten-minute gait, is all he needs ; is worth 

 more to him than the $2,000 trotter, which can make his mile 

 inside of 2.40. He may find his curiosity gratified by the 

 fast time ; he may see cause to admire more the noble auimiil 

 which has ever been man's most efficient ally ; but he caunot 

 shake off the conviction that it is a forced result. 



A track, where the action and natural speed and strength 

 of the horse are exhibited, and the best methods of control 

 and training are shown, has a value, and adds interest to our 

 fairs. But there can be no doubt that the conviction is grow- 

 ing among our thoughtful people, that .the race-course is an 

 excrescence that should be cut off. 



