86 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



grounds might be named, which, aUhough less- 

 classic, are more convenient. 



Before racing can be entered upon, the horses 

 must, as a matter of course, be in a fitting state 

 of preparation to run for them. Trainers to 

 prepare those animals for their work, as also 

 jockeys to ride them in their various contests, 

 is a matter of necessity. Race-horses are very 

 expensive to keep ; but it is questionable if more 

 than twenty-five per cent, of the animals in 

 training ever earn for their owners much more 

 than a clear ^i,ooo per annum. Horses which 

 prove successful in the Two Thousand or One 

 Thousand Guineas Stakes, the Oaks, the Derby, 

 the St. Leger, and the more important handi- 

 caps, earn large amounts for those to whom they 

 belong. These, however, are exceptional horses; 

 generally speaking, they are the horses of their 

 year. Owners of one or two animals who lay 

 themselves out to win an occasional big handicap, 

 occasionally bag a large sum of money, chiefly in.. 

 bets, however. 



Investing money in blood stock for racing 

 purposes is much like purchasing a lottery ticket. 

 It is the breeders, we suspect, who make most 

 money out of " blood stock." There are, at least, 

 a dozen famous breeding studs in England, kept 

 up at great expense, and introducing to the turf,, 

 year by year, many highly bred horses, the 

 greater number of which are sold by auction ; 

 two breeders of renown, out of their profits, were 

 enabled to found races of value which are annually 

 decided at Newmarket. 



The "business" of racing includes the break- 

 ing-in and training of the horses, and on the skill 



