556 HISTORY OF THE 



briefly defined under the following heads, which 

 are not unworthy the attention of those noblemen 

 and gentlemen on the tnrf, who may not be 

 ashamed of learning. 



In the first place, the trainer should acquire a 

 competent knowledge of the Stud-Book, so as to be 

 able to advise and guide his master in the pur- 

 chase of brood mares, the selection of stallions, 

 or even the purchase of young horses to run. 

 This has reference to their selection with regard 

 to pedigree, or what is commonly called fashion- 

 able or running blood. 



From actual observation, in preference to theory, 

 he should endeavour to make himself a good judge 

 of the formation and action of a race-horse. 

 The very nature of his calling of course gives 

 him abundance of opportunity of doing this. 



The racing calendar should be his constant 

 study and companion ; its laws, rules and regula- 

 tions of racing, he should have at his fingers' ends, 

 and he should know, with accuracy, the running 

 of all the horses of the day, the length of the 

 courses they run over, the weights they carried, 

 and the opponents they defeated. 



He should keep a strict account of the expen- 

 diture of the stable, with a view to economy, and 

 to correct prices, and should endeavour to ob- 

 tain as much knowledge as possible, to enable 

 him to judge of the quality of every article which 

 enters it, especially the corn, hay, &c. 



