180 GRAND TRIAL STAKES. 



Racer, the interval before the race should be as long as possible, at least ten days j 

 and the intermediate training- of the mildest description walking- exercise, can- 

 tering-, short brushing- gallops, if the ground be good, but no sweat ; which last 

 rule might perhaps be made absolute ; for a sweat soon after a long journey, will 

 be probable to take more from the edge of a horse's speed, than he will afterwards 

 recover in the whole season. 



These considerations introduce the idea of a fair mode, on which to decide the 

 point of superiority between the Northern and Southern Racers ; and this it ap- 

 pears would be by their annual meeting at a half-way house, that the travel and 

 other circumstances might be equal between them. Suppose then, we fix upon 

 Nottingham, and propose an annual Sweepstakes there, over the Course, to continue 

 ten years, for horses of all ages, carrying the usual weights, one hundred guineas 

 each, half forfeit horses bred and trained in the neighbourhood, to carry extra 

 weight. This race to be denominated " THE GRAND TRIAL STAKES FOR 

 NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HORSES." With all submission, we propose this to 

 the Noblemen and Gentlemen assembled at Newmarket first Spring Meeting 1820. 

 It would be a prize worth training and running for. 



From the above investigation of the subject, we must venture to conclude, it 

 will appear rational that, in training the Race Horse, moderation, or even rather 

 underdoing the business, will be far the least risk of the two extremes, and this 

 more especially, with respect to two and three year old stock, the soft and expand- 

 ing tendons and sinews of which, must necessarily be so liable to strain and injury : 

 and these reasons carry still more cogency and force, when our English custom is 

 considered of making size the second, or even tantamount object inbreeding for the 

 Course. Those large and heavy three year olds have seldom underpinning suffi- 

 ciently substantial, to support the weight above : what then must be the conse- 

 quence, with the common addition of an enormous weight of sweaters ? The oldest 

 trainers can give the most numerous answers to that question. Whatever may be 

 the race, from five hundred yards to four mile heats, surely the horse, fresh upon 

 his legs, and in full vigour of health and spirit, must, form and weight to be carried 

 being equal, prove superior to a competitor trained to the bone-lean condition of a 

 dog-horse, with his feet and joints so constantly shaken by work, that if he cannot 

 be positively deemed lame, the same hesitation must be observed in pronouncing 

 ' him sound. Allowing that the former, our frisky and high-mettled Racer, have 

 to carry a number of pounds more solid flesh than his meagre antagonist, this is 

 not to be reckoned on a level in the scale, with dead weight, as any horse of common 

 sense, that is to say, feeling, will tell you extempore. 



It may be pronounced that, even KINGS must not expect to have their royal 

 concerns ably and faithfully managed, unless they will condescend to a sufficient 

 degree of inspection and superintendance : without such labour, how are they able 

 to judge even, of the merits of their servants ? We apply this once more and once 



