NEWMARKET 57 



is full of short herbs. It affords quite the best going 

 I know of on any racecourse, and even in times of drought, 

 when the ground is naturally hard, there is enough soft cover 

 here to prevent concussion. 



The two July Meetings, if they do not always provide the 

 best sport, are in some ways the pleasantest of all the 

 Newmarket fixtures. They are held at a time when in nine 

 years out of ten the weather is warm and fine, and in really 

 fine weather there is no pleasanter spot where racing men 

 congregate than the course behind the Ditch. If the sun 

 is very powerful, the plantation, a quarter of a mile or more 

 in length, offers an impenetrable shade, and this place is 

 much used by the trainers, a large majority of the runners 

 being walked about and saddled there before every race. 

 It is a slight drawback that the course is over two miles 

 from the centre of the town, but the road between is 

 generally well watered, and the cab fare is not a heavy 

 item, unless one engages a vehicle for the day. Then the 

 scenic properties of the July Course are not to be despised, 

 and at no course in the kingdom is there so little crowding 

 or bustle. At the Rowley Mile Stand the paddock Bird- 

 cage it is usually called is on the same side as the stands, 

 the Jockey Club enclosure opening into it, while there is 

 a tunnel from the chief ring ; but on the July Course the 

 paddock and the largest enclosure, for members of the 

 Newmarket Stand, are on the far side, the public rings 

 being immediately behind the Ditch. Two or three gates 

 are opened, and in a dry week there is little sign of the 

 foot traffic even on the fourth day of the meeting. No one 

 seems to be in the slightest hurry in the July week, and 

 a new face is a rarity, but it is the beau ideal of a race 

 meeting ; and with sales of thoroughbred stock both before 

 and after the racing, those with a fondness for horses are 

 provided almost with a surfeit. 



The fault of Newmarket is that there is far too much 

 sprint racing, and that very little encouragement is offered 

 to stayers. As I have said already, the longest races decided 

 there (always excepting the Whip) are the Caesarewitch and 

 the Jockey Club Cup. Beyond the first -named there is 



