BRITISH TURF. 557 



In the stable, his whole energies should be 

 devoted to the one great object of getting his 

 horses in the best possible condition to bring to 

 the post ; and as this cannot be accomplished by 

 following to the letter any system which has been 

 laid down, he must call to his aid all that his own 

 knowledge and experience, matured by constant 

 and severe reflection, may suggest. 



Among the divisions of practical training which 

 especially require the attention of the trainer, the 

 trials of race-horses require particular notice ; for 

 unless the greatest care be taken in selecting a 

 horse of known public running, and in proper con- 

 dition at the time, the nicest skill in regulating 

 the weights, according to age, fixing the distance, 

 &c., and putting up the best jockeys, will not 

 prevent the trainer and his employer from being 

 misled by the result. 



We cannot do better than quote the words of a 

 well known writer on sporting literature, with refer- 

 ence to this subject. — Speaking of trials, he says, 

 "There is no contrivance by which more money can 

 be thrown away, than in the so called trials. The 

 trial horse is often stale, and with hardly a leg to 

 stand on, at high weights, and perhaps on a course 

 which does not suit him, it brought out against a 

 young one, in the highest possible train, fresh, and 

 ready to fly out of his skin, and a light weight on 

 his back. The old one, whether it be his forte or 

 not, must make the play ; and, as naturally may 



