22 FLAT-RACING EXPLAINED. 



furlong horses; we have then milers, and those des- 

 ignated "long-distance horses," which may mean 

 any distance up to two or two and a half miles. We 

 have three miles, it is true, but those races are few 

 and far between now. 



Of the running of horses over short distances 

 a singular erroneous idea appears to prevail. If 

 a "six-furlong horse" wins, say, at Epsom, he is 

 treated as being the same horse at that distance 

 on all courses, and it is not of any consequence 

 whether it be Ascot, Goodwood, Sandowne, or any 

 other place. Why this should be so it is impossible 

 to say. How many horses there are that win at 

 Epsom on the short courses, and seldom, if ever, 

 win anywhere else! It is true I once saw a couple 

 of two-year-olds run a close race at Epsom, and 

 they were afterwards matched for a large stake to 

 run five furlongs on tlie same conditions in point of 

 weight at Ascot, and they finished a close race there. 

 It was, however, only a sorry exhibition at the 

 latter place, and it practically settled both, for 

 neither was of any use afterwards. 



But upon what theory these colts were matched 

 to run on a total change of gradients it is diflacult 

 to understand. If the question of gradient alone 

 inspired the match, there would have been some- 

 thing in it, and at the same time something to 

 record, on the scientific as also on the practical side 



