34 THE ENGLISH TURF 



by registered letter to " pore old Bob " by the next morning's 

 post. 



The same state of affairs continued to the end of our 

 visit ; and since that time, when I have had to attend the 

 meeting, I have stayed forty miles from the town, travelling 

 to and fro by rail each day. With such disabilities to con- 

 tend with, is it surprising that modern race-goers prefer the 

 comforts that new meetings provide for them ? 



Though I have attempted to describe what is the worst 

 side of the headquarters of the Turf, I hasten to say that, 

 from a purely racing point of view, Newmarket is 21 lbs. 

 and a beating in front of any other place in the kingdom 

 where the sport is carried on. The drawbacks are simply 

 connected with the pocket. Those who do not mind paying 

 " extra risk " can be as comfortable there as in their own 

 homes, and to do the meetings comfortably one should 

 take down a hack, or hire one for the week. Since the 

 Rowley Mile stands were built hacks have not been much 

 used during racing hours, and at the Summer Course, in 

 the two July weeks, they have almost disappeared, though 

 a good many are used as a means of conveyance to and 

 from the course. In the morning, however, unless one is 

 very keen on walking, a hack, a bicycle, or a cab is absolutely 

 necessary. To many a fine morning at Newmarket, in a 

 race week, is more interesting than the races run later in 

 the day, save when there happens to be a big event in the 

 programme ; but unless the Limekilns gallop is open, a 

 great deal of moving about from place to place is inevitable, 

 as horses are galloped here, there, and everywhere, and at 

 such times one generally wishes to see the cracks, and the 

 horses that have good engagements in the immediate future. 



To anyone who has never visited Newmarket some descrip- 

 tion of its celebrated heath and training grounds may be 

 interesting. In order that the uninitiated may be able to 

 understand the general constitution of the greatest racing 

 and training centre in the world, let us approach it from 

 the London side, and by the high road. This road, which 

 leaves London by way of Epping Forest, next touches the 

 town of Harlow, and from that little town runs parallel 



