3i8 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



run, and they can fix a limit, as indeed they have 

 already done, below which the stake to be run 

 for shall not sink. The Jockey Club did a wise 

 action in licensing jockeys and other racing 

 officials ; that body may judiciously extend its 

 authority so far as to license bookmakers, and 

 also create a race-going police that shall be a 

 terror to welshers and racing roughs of all 

 kinds. 



II. 



Sir Joseph Hawley figured in his time as a 

 racing reformer, and judging from what he said 

 and did he was thoroughly in earnest. His 

 propositions may serve as a text for an exposition 

 of what is now held by some good judges to 

 be most wanted in the shape of "racing reform." 



By way of exordium, Sir Joseph laid down as 

 a proposition that racing was no longer a national 

 sport, but had become a " mere trade," so far as 

 most of its followers were concerned. "The 

 public are now convinced," said Sir Joseph, "that 

 the system which has been of late years rapidly 

 growing up in no way tends to improve the breed of 

 horses, but is one of simple gambling, and in this 

 state of things the Jockey Club silently acquiesce. 

 Such an impression, rightly or wrongly formed, is 

 most dangerous alike to the sport and the reputa- 

 tion of those who take part in it ; but so long as 

 the recognised authorities remain passive, and 

 make no effort to bring about a better order of 

 things, it would be impossible to remove it." 



The proposals made by Sir Joseph for com- 

 parison with racing as it is to-day may be sum- 

 marised as follows : 



