268 THE HORSE. 



furlong, one hundred thirty-eight yards. The Round 

 Course, three miles, six furlongs, ninety-three yards. 

 Childers also ran over the B. C. in seven minutes, 

 thirty seconds, but the weight he carried is not 

 known : at any rate, the comparison proves Matchem 

 to have been indeed a capital runner. 



Timing, of racers does not often taken place, but I 

 think it did somewhat unusually so, in the North, two 

 or three years since. In fact it can answer no pur- 

 pose generally, since the horses only make their play 

 on particular parts of the course, and at the run in. 

 The case is different when circumstances lead to the 

 expectation that the race will be run out and out, 

 and that the horses will be urged to the utmost of 

 their ability. 



In the Section on Hunting, I boasted the correct- 

 ness of my vaticination, in days long past. I have 

 now a right to repeat that boast in respect of the 

 Turf. Racing has increased in a full ratio with the 

 increase of national prosperity and human intelli- 

 gence. A disheartening consideration however it is, 

 to the reflecting moralist, that such a monstrous and 

 appalling extent of human misery, and its conse- 

 quent human depravity, should subsist with such an 

 unparalleled degree of national opulence. Is this 

 the necessary result of commercial greatness and 

 luxury 1 or does it emanate from the radical vice of 

 our political system ? The case well and fearfully 

 demands the most profound consideration of our in- 

 fluential and patriotic politicians. 



Opening Pond's " Sporting Calendar" for the year 

 1753, I find its subscribers amounted to 478; the 



