268 HORSE-RACING IN ENGLAND 



Mr. ' Rapier ' rejoices in the fact that the Derby 

 and the Oaks had increased in value from ^4,050 

 to ^6,960, and from ^2,600 to ^5,270, and the 

 St. Leger from ^4,800 (and ^4,300 in 1891) to 

 ^5.400 (and ^5,125 in 1890), but omits to 

 point out that the stewards of the Jockey Club 

 had been obliged (as ex -officio stewards of 

 Epsom Races) to come to the rescue of the 

 Derby and the Oaks by obtaining a guarantee 

 of a certain minimum (^5,000 to the former 

 and ^4,000 to the latter) to each, whereby 

 subscribers were encouraged and the number of 

 subscriptions was increased. So that if we add 

 to this the evidence afforded by the July sales at 

 Newmarket, and the later sales at Doncaster, the 

 condition of the turf seems to be at present a 

 state of unwholesome and temporary inflation 

 rather than of natural, healthy, permanent embon- 

 point ; and, perhaps, the sooner a needle is ap- 

 plied, an aperture effected, and the swelling 

 reduced by the outflow and disappearance of dele- 

 terious secretion, the better in the long run for 

 the sport of horse-racing and the business of 

 horse-breeding. 



No doubt the system of gate-money meetings, 



