76 FLAT-RAGING EXPLAINED. 



similar in character tliat crop up g^eason after sea- 

 son, until it is sincerely to be hoped the time has 

 arrived when, in the interest of sport, it will cease 

 to be tolerated. I make not the remotest sugges- 

 tion of wrong-doing in the case referred to, but 

 nevertheless the idea rather extensively prevails 

 that, under the present handicap system, an animal 

 possessing extraordinary racing capabilities only 

 needs to be kept in reserve long enough to descend 

 in the handicap scale until the minimum impost of 

 *t) St. is certain to be reached. 



When this happens, as I am afraid it does oftener 

 than Ave think, the wrong that is done is most 

 serious in numerous directions. Perhaps, however, 

 the worst feature of all is, when a race with a horse 

 so handicapped comes off, tlie scandal it creates, 

 people having to witness every means being re- 

 sorted to to prevent the horse in question squander- 

 ing the field and coming in alone. 



*St. (stone) is equivalent to 14 lbs. 



