9 



those who were the owners of animals, the mouths of 

 which presented any peculiarities, ought to notify the 

 fact some days before the horses started. By for- 

 bearing to do so, gentlemen expose themselves to 

 accusation. By examining the animal at the mo- 

 ment of starting, and founding a decision thereon, 

 no good can be done, but injustice may be perpe- 

 trated ; for supposing the suspected horse is pro- 

 nounced to exhibit the tokens of the lawful age, the 

 inspection of its mouth by a stranger may, by exci- 

 ting its irritability, lose the race. At the same time, 

 to permit an unqalified animal to start, would be 

 unjust ; and therefore the greater necessity for such a 

 timely inspection as would allow of a preliminary in- 

 vestigation of the proofs that could be brought for- 

 ward in contradiction of the teeth. These sugges- 

 tions are made with the less hesitation, as the writer 

 feels that were they adopted, few cases would spring 

 out of them ; for the mouths of racers are so regular 

 in their development, that the age of this description 

 of animal can with more certainty be pronounced 

 than that of any other kind of horse. 



