EST MODUS IN REBUS. 51 



of the best horses the world produces sacrificed, and 

 butchered to make them win if wanted to win, and 

 dosed, to save appearances, when intended to lose. 



If Steeple- racing was merely a race of two or three 

 miles over a fair hunting line of country, it would 

 perhaps be as good an amusement as any other race, 

 with no more suffering to the horses engaged in it, 

 and would in fact be a pretty sight. Why is it 

 always made four, and often more miles ? For this 

 reason : those who make it a profession, and get 

 horses for this express purpose, have by this a better 

 chance of winning. Why are five, six, and seven 

 hundred guineas given for particular horses for this 

 purpose ? Not because they are superior as hunters 

 for a gentleman's riding, but because they possess ex- 

 traordinary qualifications for this purpose : and this 

 purpose is .... what ? sport, or the pleasure of 

 seeing the horse win? Not a bit: win or lose, the 

 purpose is to cheat the public. This the public will 

 say is cruel to them : I say it " serves them right :" 

 they should not bet about these things. I am quite 

 sure of one thing, it is an unnecessary and wanton 

 cruelty to horses, and this does not serve them right. 



Matches against time is another precious mode 

 of filling the pockets of a set of miscreants 

 robbing the public, and subjecting a noble animal 

 often to suffering and punishment at which humanity 

 shudders. Matches against time might take place 

 without any undue practice of cruelty, if the suffering 

 of the animal was (which it never is) in such cases 

 made any consideration. What he may be able to do 

 with any ordinary suffering is not the calculation at 

 all ; but what eatfra-ordinary suffering and &ztfra-ordi- 

 nary punishment may force him to perform is calcu- 



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