372 THE nORSE. 



" A jjersonal view of the English horses, and of English ra- 

 cing, has convinced me that their horses have more speed than 

 ours, and greater capacity for carrying weight. Now, these 

 things admitted, and I think no well informed man will deny it, 

 there is little reason to suspect that they have less game and 

 bottom, as they are descended from the same root, and bred 

 with the greatest care and attention." 



The question of superior speed, has been apparently given 

 up. Another writer, who concedes the fact of greater speed in 

 England at high weights, inquires if the diflerence may not be 

 attributed to the superiority of the turf courses in England. 

 Being familiar with most of the race-courses in England, and all 

 the Northern courses of the United States, I should reply that 

 I greatly doubt the superiority of the turf course, for the making 

 of good time, as a general rule, though it perhaps is less hard 

 upon the feet. 



When a turf course is in its most perfect condition, which 

 is not once in a hundred times, it is, perhaps, in all respects 

 more favorable to pace than any American course in the same 

 condition. But when the ground is thoroughly dry and baked, 

 and the grass, as I have often seen it, burnt till it is as slippery, 

 almost, as ice ; or when, as is, I might say, generally the case 

 under the weeping skies of England, the grass course is fetlock 

 deep in stiff mud, covered with a tenacious sod, it is worse than 

 any thing I have ever seen on any course, even Camden, in the 

 United States. I am certain that I have seen Knavesmire, at 

 York, and from the hill to the Ked-house and thence half way 

 home, at Doncaster, ten seconds, at least, worse in the mile, 

 than ever I saw any part of any race-course on this side the 

 water. 



I do, however, believe that there is a manifest advantage, 

 especially for lengthy horses, in the larger size and less abrupt 

 turns of the English race-courses. I have seen that noble race- 

 horse, Mingo, who, for shapes was almost my beau ideal of the 

 animal, suffer repeatedly from being pulled out of his stride, in 

 order to get round the awkward short turns of the Union Course, 

 and I have not a doubt that either on the Beacon, which is 

 straight, or on the Goodwood Course, which is arranged in long 

 sweeping curves without any sudden corner, he or any other 



