8 THE ENGLISH TURF 



English Turf, and their presence is accounted for by the fact 

 that we have got into a bad groove, both as regards breeding 

 and training, and also because we have had far too many 

 short races and too many selling handicaps. Concerning 

 the plethora of short races I need say no more, since the 

 Stewards of the Jockey Club have thoroughly grasped the 

 situation, and have already legislated with a view to an 

 amelioration of the evil. Let us hope that their efforts will 

 continue to be in the same direction. The short -race 

 system was brought about by promoters of meetings who 

 years ago realised the fact that it was a much easier matter 

 to get fifteen runners for a five-furlong race than to secure 

 five starters for a two-mile race. The trainers played into 

 their hands, and as there was no check for many years short 

 races increased in number, and the inducements to train 

 horses for the longer distances became fewer and fewer. 



Many, perhaps a majority, of these sprinters that have 

 been a natural product of the system are as unlike the 

 typical racehorse as it is possible for them to be. High 

 on the leg, too short from shoulder to quarters, narrow, 

 split up, and light of bone. How many of this stamp of 

 horse, and yet gifted with speed for a short course, do we 

 not see in any race paddock nowadays ? The question 

 hardly requires an answer. These are not the right sort 

 of horses, and the more of this stamp we continue to 

 breed, the more we make room for the Americans and 

 Colonials. The reasons for the present state of affairs are 

 numerous, and so too are the remedies that are suggested. 

 I have no wish to dictate, but am much inclined to suggest 

 that unsoundness in both sire and dam is not sufficiently 

 taken into account. All the racing world knows that from 

 roarers many good horses have been bred, but one swallow 

 does not make a summer, and I feel sure that a majority 

 of the stock of any roarer will some time or other develop 

 the weakness of their parent. The late Duke of Westminster 

 was widely and loudly abused for selling Ormonde out of 

 the country, but, putting all sentiment out of the question, 

 and looking at the matter from a purely practical point 

 of view, the Duke acted very rightly, though as it happened 



