54 THE ENGLISH TURF 



is the T.Y.C. post, the course for which is 5 furlongs 140 

 yards. Older horses run on this course as well as two- 

 year-olds, and it is generally considered an easy course. 

 About this I am not at all sure, for it is very level going, 

 with no give and take, as there is on the Rous Course. A 

 furlong nearer the stands is another judge's box, at the 

 end of what is called the Ditch Mile, and this is placed 

 within a few yards of the Bushes, and just before the 

 descent to the Abingdon Mile Bottom is commenced. The 

 Ditch Mile is considered easier than the Rowley Mile, and 

 certainly there is no hill to finish up ; but, as with the 

 T.Y.C, it is all on the flat, and I have seen horses fail to 

 stay this course that could win on the Rowley Mile. But 

 it must not be overlooked that some horses are suited by 

 one and some by the other. The third judge's box on the 

 Flat is at the foot of the Bushes Hill, at the end of the 

 Abingdon Mile, and various portions of this mile are used, 

 one or two races finishing there in every week of racing. 

 This finish is on a sharp descent, and is a rare place for 

 non - stayers, provided their forelegs will enable them to 

 travel at top speed down the hill. The various portions 

 of the Rowley Mile are more often used than the similar 

 portions of the Ditch and Abingdon Miles ; but it must 

 be remembered that all the races run on the Rowley Mile, 

 or portions of it, or Across the Flat, finish right opposite 

 the stands; while to see a finish on any portion of the 

 Abingdon or Ditch Miles, or at the T.Y.C, one has to 

 leave the stand, and walk, ride, or drive from a furlong to 

 half a mile from the paddock. Comparatively few people 

 leave the stands when a race is being run which finishes 

 in the Dip (Abingdon Mile), but there is a general 

 stampede when the winning-post is at the Bushes or T.Y.C, 

 and it is this variety which gives such a charm to racing 

 at Newmarket. A section of Newmarket visitors complain 

 loudly at having to travel down the course generally about 

 twice in each day, and some newspapers never forget to 

 make grievous lamentation on the same score, but the 

 malcontents must wilfully blind themselves to the reason 

 why so many different courses are used at Newmarket. 



