HORSE-RACING IN ENGLAND 



eccentricity than obscenity ; for though we still 

 come across names which have an uncanny look 

 or sound, or both, the inclination is much more 

 towards apparently idiotic appellations, such as 

 Abomelique, Cumberhzapha, Fogram, Fox- 

 huntoribus, Fal-de-ral-tit, Ploughator, Pot-8-os, 

 and Titanoteratophyton, some of which would 

 drive many a bookmaker of to-day to imitate the 

 vocabulary of Mr. Crofts, of Barforth, Yorks. 



To come back, however, from the mere con- 

 sideration of the names, to the animals them- 

 selves, it remains to be noted that in George II I. 's 

 reign two-year-olds, under the auspices of the 

 Jockey Club, were called upon to run three miles 

 (carrying a 'feather,' it is true), at the Houghton 

 Meeting (a sort of burning of the candle at both 

 ends, running youngsters at long distances), a 

 practice which continued from 1782 to 1869-70. 



To change the topic once more, we may mention 

 that in the same reign was left the curious Perram 

 bequest (by a grateful gentleman of that name, in 

 Hertfordshire, who had made his fortune by horse- 

 racing and cock-fighting) to increase the value of 

 certain Plates at Newmarket, York, and Don- 

 caster, and to provide marriage-portions for cer- 



