NEWMARKET 41 



side of the town there is every variety of gallop, as there is 

 also every variety of racecourse. From the start of the 

 Beacon Course, on the Bury side, to the furthest point on 

 the Bury side of Newmarket is a distance of nine miles in 

 a straight line, including the town itself. 



The time to see the work on the Limekilns to perfection 

 is, as a general rule, in either of the July weeks. In nine 

 years out of ten much of the going at Newmarket has 

 become very hard about this time, and in consequence there 

 is a rush to the Limekilns, and horses, whose stables are 

 on the far side of the town, are often taken right through, 

 in order that they may take advantage of the good going. 

 At such times, from before eight o'clock in the morning until 

 about half-past ten, the place is alive with horses, and also 

 with lookers-on. Ladies on horseback grace the scene by 

 the dozen. Owners and their friends are grouped about, 

 and on the Norwich Road quite a string of cabs and 

 pony-carts is waiting. A bicycle is nowadays probably 

 rested against each one of the telegraph posts that line 

 the road, and whilst some two or three "strings" or "trainer's 

 lots " are doing their work, in twos and threes, or sometimes 

 in long-drawn file, many other strings are being walked out 

 in circles. To a stranger the tout ensemble is novel and 

 somewhat bewildering. Horses he sees in all directions, but 

 amidst such numbers he is quite confused, and eagerly 

 looks for someone who knows the ropes and can help him 

 to untangle the mystery. To an habitue", even if he only 

 sees it in the meeting weeks, the whole thing is quite plain. 

 He knows all the trainers, at least by sight, and probably 

 most of the owners who are present as well. At a glance 

 he recognises one string by its blue clothing, a second by 

 its crimson sheets, and a third from the face of the head 

 lad, who is riding alongside. If he is in slight doubt, the 

 lettering or coronet on the clothing helps to put him right, 

 and before he has watched many minutes he has picked out 

 the older and better-known horses as they walk past. The 

 two-year-olds puzzle him, especially those which have not run, 

 still he knows quite enough to make his morning most en- 

 joyable, and he probably goes home with a fair idea as to 



