NEWMARKET IN EARLY DAYS. 



" Newmarket may truly be styled the classic 

 ground of racing, and it is there only that this 

 delightful sport may be said to exist in perfection. 

 No crowd, no booths impede the view ; none 

 of those discordant noises which make a perfect 

 babel of other racecourses distract the attention. 

 The number of spectators seldom exceeds 500, 

 and they are mostly of the higher classes, the 

 majority on horseback, with perhaps a few close 

 carriages and barouches." 



The words given above were written previous 

 to 1840, by a well-known turf historian. Since 

 then numerous changes have occurred at New- 

 market, the sacred heath having even on 

 occasions been invaded by "the roughs." At one 

 period the place was doubtless all that has been 

 pictured, and, as " head-quarters," the metropolis 

 of the turf, it has always been of importance to 

 racing men, and a well-known seat of training for 

 horses and riders. As many probably as 1,000 

 race-horses of all ages, it has been computed, are 

 housed in the training stables of Newmarket. 



In considering the part which Newmarket has 

 played in the history of the turf, it will be as well, 

 however, to begin at the beginning. 



c 2 



