RACING REFORM: SIR JOSEPH 

 HAWLEY'S AND OTHER SCHEMES. 



Within the last twenty years many schemes of 

 turf reform have been discussed, and it must be 

 admitted that in the matter of the rules of racing 

 several wholesale changes have already been 

 made. Instead of entering upon particulars of 

 what has been accomplished by the Jockey Club, 

 or indulging in speculations as to what that 

 august body is probably meditating in the way of 

 farther racing reform, it may probably turn out 

 that aid has come from an unexpected source, so 

 far, at least, as one phase of reform is concerned. 



The growth of " gate-money meetings " points 

 to the solution of one vexed question of turf 

 economy, namely, an abatement of several petty 

 meetings which were once a feature of the racing 

 season. Gate-money meetings, it must be ad- 

 mitted, are proving wonderfully successful. The 

 effect of establishing these centres of sport (gate- 

 money meetings) will ultimately limit the seats of 

 racing ; indeed, it is now prophesied that, after 

 a few years, racing will no longer, as in past 

 times, be " the free sport of a free people." It is 

 being said that the day is not far distant when 



