66 A MIEROR OF THE TURF. 



In forming an estimate of the value of the racing 

 stock of the period, the price paid for the year- 

 lings which change hands at the public sales must 

 first of all be noted. In 1889, according to 

 "Ruff," 851 of these baby horses were pur- 

 chased at prices varying from 4,000 gs. to 8 gs. 

 During the last twenty years large numbers of 

 yearlings have changed hands at big prices, one, 

 two, and three thousand guineas being often 

 paid in the course of a sale for animals that 

 purchasers fancy, colts or fillies, that look as 

 if they would, when properly trained, " make 

 race-horses," and probably in time reward their 

 owners by winning a few of the great prizes of 

 the turf. Other horses, mature animals, ready- 

 made racers, that is to say, or those suited for 

 breeding, occasionally fetch very high prices ; 

 but it is possible for illustrative purposes to strike 

 an average as between those which sell for 

 thousands and those which only bring tens. It 

 should not be an over estimate to fix upon a sum 

 <^f .^300 each as being the value of the 10,000 

 animals of all ages, from colts to matrons of 

 mature years, which would represent a total sum 

 of ^3,000,000, the interest on which, calculated 

 at the rate of five per cent., would amount to 

 ;^ 1 50,000 per annum. 



There then comes the question of the annual 

 expenditure incurred in keeping up the various 

 racing studs of the country. The board and 

 lodging of a race-horse varies, according to the 

 stable in which he is kept and the status of the 

 trainer, from two pounds or two guineas a week 

 to a half more than that. Of horses told off for 

 breeding purposes, no note need be taken, as 



