PRIVATE AND PUBLIC TRAINING. 177 



become exceedingly dissatisfied, and complain that they can find 110 means of keep- 

 ing- the qualifications of their horses secret, and thence have determined upon 

 training at home. But such a measure can be carried into effect, by those only, who 

 have good exercise-ground upon their own estates, or in their vicinity. With 

 respect to public training, as at Newmarket and elsewhere, there certainly must be 

 some considerable advantages in it : and in regard to the disadvantage complained 

 of, it is a handy-cap affair, in which all share alike, and which offers the hedge of 

 sufficient personal attention, scrutiny into character, and due share of any intelli 

 gence to be obtained. Many are had, to be sure, but many offer themselves ; and 

 who is most to blame, when such an offer is accepted ? 



But to come to a point of the highest consequence to the interests of the Turf, 

 and of sound reason, we can have no doubt, that where one horse has been lamed 

 fraudently and wickedly, one hundred have been broken down by the existing 

 remains of the ancient and absurd system of training, which are yet cherished by 

 habitual prejudices, and obviously, in no small degree, by certain parties, from 

 interested motives. The Proprietors themselves of Race Horses, in fact, instead 

 of following the successful example of Sir Charles Bunbitry, have shewn them- 

 selves as lingering and tardy, in casting off the slough of these inveterate preju- 

 dices, as their grooms and trainers, to whose guidance in the affair, they have 

 generally submitted with an implicit faith. Training is a good thing, Purging is 

 a good thing; ergo, a Racer cannot have too much of them. Ahorse with bones of 

 adamant, tendons of steel, and sinews of a super-animal fibrous contexture, would 

 scarcely be able to bear up against the perpetual repetition and attrition of such 

 discipline : and when he breaks down oh ! he has been carefully and sufficiently 

 trained, he has had his chance ; if it will do, advertise him as a Stallion ; if not, 

 sell him, and buy another. Such is the usual logic of the stable, and it passes for 

 sterling. The Philosophical and Practical Treatise on Horses, published 

 in 1796, so far as we know, was the first publication which adverted specifically 

 to the custom of overtraining the Race Horse ; and the sentiments of the Author 

 on that subject, were honoured with the approbation of the then Duke of Bedford, 

 and several other intelligent and experienced Sporting Gentlemen. 



Having corresponded occasionally with the Sporting Magazine, during the last 

 two or three and twenty years, we assume a greater freedom of quotation ; and 

 finding in the Number for last December, a letter much to our present purpose, and, 

 no doubt, written by some person of experience, and who well knows the existing 

 circumstances of the Turf, whether in the North or in the South, we extract and 

 address it to the serious consideration of our Sporting Readers. 



" It is an observation which every day's experience proves to be true, that the 

 Newmarket Horses, however high their reputation may be there, never win 

 in the North of England. If they were started immediately on their arrival 



