68 A MIRROR OF THE TURK 



expenses, including the fees paid to the jockeys 

 who ride them in their races, and if a sum of £2^ 

 per annum be placed against each of the 5,000 

 horses assumed to be taking, at present, an active 

 part in the sport of kings, in name of travelling 

 and miscellaneous expenses, it gives a total of 

 ^125,000. 



A recapitulation of these figures gives the 

 following result : 



Interest on capital sunk in race-horses... ;;^i5o coo 



Cost of keeping horses ... ... ... 780,000 



Amounts paid in entries and forfeits ... 50,000 



Travelling and other expenses ... ... 125,000 



Making a grand total of ... ... ;^i, 105,000 



It becomes apparent, then, that the sum of 

 ^1,105,000 ought to be obtained every year in 

 stakes, to recoup gentlemen and others engaged 

 in the pastime of horse-racing for the outlays 

 they make. But no such sum has ever been 

 realised, and, in consequence, gambling has to 

 be resorted to to provide the difference ; hence 

 that extensive betting, which is the most remark- 

 able feature of the turf. The preceding figures 

 are given with the view of illustrating the pro- 

 position that horse-racing, except in rare cases, 

 cannot be made to pay. It happens every season, 

 that one or two owners are so fortunate as to win 

 from ;^io,ooo to ^20,000 in stakes — they may 

 even experience a run of good fortune during 

 three or four consecutive years, and, after all, the 

 game may not have paid them, or done more 

 than make ends meet. No matter the good 



