vi INTRODUCTION 



When it is indelibly realized tliat in racing, as in 

 mathematics, deviation from a straig^it line proves the 

 longer way round, perhaps the part scientific demon- 

 s'tration must yet play, to increase enlightenment, and 

 make more effedtive ordinary "understanding," will 

 not be overlooked. 



After some years of attentive study and very close 

 observaition I desire to express the gratification it was 

 to me that manj' results at which I had arrived should 

 have met with confirmation by the 'timely act of Lord 

 Durham in the famous speech he delivered on the oc- 

 casion of the G-imcrack Clu)b Meeting held at York in 

 Deceintoer la&t. 



Commenting, as I trust 1 may 'be permitted to do, on 

 the subject of a speech conitaining, as it did, so much 

 of the highest value and importance to the best in- 

 terests of the turf, perhaps it will not be deemed out 

 of place if I take the liberty of reminding his lordship 

 that It W9,s the extreme accuracy of the incident3 and 

 circumgitancps to which he referred, cotupled with re- 

 sults most clearly defined in all that appeared, that led 

 to the present work iDeing puiblished. 



When his lordship said, "It had been a year of medi- 

 ocrity. They had had moderate horses, moderate rid- 

 ing, moderate racing, and moderate handicapping," 

 nothing better to the purpose could have been ex- 

 pressed, and the pubjic in general certainly owe a dpbt 



