MODERN ENCLOSED COURSES 195 



run over a ten-furlong course, and at the July Meeting its 

 place is taken by the Horseshoe Handicap of a mile and a 

 half, and worth nearly ;!{^i,ooo. At the October Meeting the 

 Gatwick Handicap is of the same length and the same 

 value as the Horseshoe Handicap, and it is backed up by 

 Nurseries of considerable value. It will thus be seen that 

 long-distance running is encouraged by the Gatwick execu- 

 tive, and it may be added that two-mile weight-for-age plates 

 often do duty at this enclosure in place of the regulation 

 mile races that are found elsewhere. The Gatwick stands 

 are alongside and connected with the railway platforms 

 by covered ways, and the paddock is one of the largest 

 and best in the kingdom. In my humble opinion — ^judging 

 partly from the excellent management, but chiefly from 

 the magnificent course — there is a great future before 

 Gatwick, and I should like to see a Gatwick Cup, on some- 

 what similar lines to the Ascot Cup, so well adapted is 

 the course for this class of contest. 



Lingfield is a beautiful spot, its scenic attractions yielding 

 only to those of Goodwood amongst our English racecourses. 

 Its club enclosure is the prettiest of them all, and though 

 as the presumed successor to the turbulent Edenbridge 

 Meeting it began life with somewhat troublous times, it 

 has weathered the storm, and has quickly acquired much 

 popularity. Thousand-pound stakes for two-year-olds and 

 handicaps of the same amount are at present the most 

 valuable prizes offered. At its cross-country meetings the 

 stakes are often very small, and an improvement in this 

 respect is desirable, while just about the same number of 

 meetings are held as at Gatwick. The course is a somewhat 

 peculiar one, there being a considerable amount of hill- 

 climbing on the round course, and a steep hill to come 

 down, while the first half of the straight mile is on a sharp 

 descent favourable to fast times. It was here that Harrow 

 made the record for a mile. Good-shouldered horses who 

 can stretch themselves out to the fullest speed on a steep 

 decline are at an advantage here, but the run-in is almost 

 level, the junction of the round and straight courses being 

 about half a mile from the winning-post. 



