58 



THE ENGLISH TURF 



no handicap of more than a mile and a half, and during 

 the course of the year there are few of any sort beyond that 

 distance. Taking 1900 as a guide, I find that 194 races 

 were decided at the eight meetings, and that these were 

 divided as follows : — 



5 furlongs and over, but less than 6 furlongs 



6 furlongs . 



7 » 

 I mile 



I mile and i furlong 

 I mile and 2 furlongs 

 I >, 3 » 

 I >» 4 » 



1 . 6 „ 



2 miles 



2 miles and 2 furlongs 

 4 miles 



76 



31 



1 1 



29 



2 



9 



2 



27 



194 



From the above statement it will be seen that sprint races 

 still are the most popular with those whose duty it is to 

 issue the programmes of the Newmarket Meetings, but I 

 am strongly of opinion that it would be for the good of 

 the turf were a wholesale curtailment made of these short 

 races. Before the new rules came in Newmarket set a very 

 bad example to the racing world, and in fact encouraged 

 sprint racing more than any other turf executive. Only 

 three years ago, in 1897, the races under 6 furlongs were 

 91 out of 207, and there was only one race of a mile and a 

 half against 27 in the past year. Five furlongs is no sort 

 of a course, except as a test of speed, and I would like to 

 see five-furlong racing discontinued altogether, except for 

 two-year-olds. From a sporting point of view a five-furlong 

 race amongst old horses is but a sorry sight. A good start 

 and a quick beginning mean so much. Then if the field is 

 a large one and the best horse at the weights does not get 

 off well, he is very often shut in, and beaten because he 

 cannot extricate himself in time. Five-furlong races too are 

 productive of longer delays at the post, and more bad starts 



