180 KINGSCLERE 



upon the action of our modern racehorses. The 

 object is, of course, to set them off from the very 

 flag-fall with a bound and a rattle — but what is the 

 result ? The action becomes quick, cramped, and 

 unnatural, and quite distinct from the sweeping, 

 powerful stride necessary for success over long dis- 

 tances. The evolution which follows is antagonistic 

 to stamina and to the original nature of the horse. 

 It is quite possible to force a breed remarkable for 

 speed in this way, but it is probable that speed itself 

 would suffer in the long run ; for if the lungs are 

 narrowed by quick breathing, and the growth and 

 muscles otherwise deteriorated, the effect must be 

 injurious sooner or later. In regard to sprint 

 racing two-year-olds, it has, in fact, become a case 

 of demand and supply, and the most influential 

 encouragement is given in that direction which is 

 certainly the most dangerous. It seems, in any 

 case (and I am considering this matter quite apart 

 from the grave question of Turf economy), regret- 

 able that the encouragement through rich prizes 

 should not be distributed over a larger area or 

 greater variety of contests, so that the whole am- 

 bition and efforts of owners and trainers should not 

 be pressed into this one channel of excellence." 



4 Before giving my finally matured views on the 

 questions of breeding and sprint racing touched 

 upon by me from time to time, and .now brought 

 together in the foregoing pages, I should like to 

 reproduce some observations on a subject which has 

 a bearing from another direction on Turf reform. 



