BUSINESS OF HORSE-RACING. 87 



with which this is accomplished, depends much of 

 the success or non-success which attends the 

 animals durino: their racin^r career. Some trainers 

 are particularly fortunate with yearlings entrusted 

 to their care, and are able to bring them to 

 various race meetings trained to perfection. 

 Others, again, less able in their profession, or 

 less fortunate in the ability or stamina of the 

 animals entrusted to their care, do not make 

 so good a show with their horses, and are 

 consequently not looked upon with the same 

 favour by the racing community. It is seldom 

 difficult, however, to win a race with a good 

 horse (or even a bad one) properly prepared for 

 the struggle. Many capable judges of horse-flesh 

 think that horses are occasionally " overtrained," 

 and that, in consequence, when the hour of 

 contest arrives, they are compelled to succumb 

 to some more robust rival. Some trainers have 

 acquired fame in their business from their ability 

 to train a horse to win the Derby ; others devote 

 their time and attention to the preparation of 

 horses for long or short distance races, whilst a 

 third class look chiefly to steeple-chasing, and 

 delight to train horses to jump. 



III. 



It is no part of the writer's intention to describe 

 tne economy of a training stable ; but the business 

 of a trainer of race-horses is one which is fraught 

 with anxiety ; a sudden change of the atmosphere 

 may ruin his prospects of winning an important 

 race, or a horse ridden at exercise by a careless 

 boy may be brought back to the stable so lame 



