THE BREEDING OF HUNTERS AND HACKS. 189 



tent. A sporting' innkeeper or a liard-riding* townsman 

 would just "qualify," again, bj taking- the requisite 

 number of acres of ground, and bargaining for a plater 

 in due time previous to the race coming off. Then, by 

 aid of a quasi gentleman-rider, who could sit still and 

 finish^ the " bond fide farmer" Boniface would pocket the 

 purse, as the donors looked on year after year in glum 

 disappointment, murmuring occasionally to each other 

 that this was not exactly what they meant either ! Per- 

 haps, however, next to losing, the most unfortunate thing 

 that could ever happen to a real tenant-farmer was to 

 win one of these same Farmers' Plates. It has given 

 more than one man of my acquaintance his first taste for 

 the turf — another result as little intended by the founders 

 of the prize. Still, let the members of the Hunt not yet 

 altogether despair of what they may do in this way. Of 

 late years the purse has taken a far more popular form,, 

 and in place of being contested as a plate on a race-course, 

 it is now offered as a premium on a show-ground. To 

 the growing interest and success of such a system I have 

 already spoken ; but we have scarcely yet got so far as 

 the show-ground. Before we venture into public, we 

 must see if we cannot set to work, and breed something- 

 fit to place before the judges. And here, too, the Hunt 

 may help us. Let it be admitted that, in a free country 

 like this, the licensing plan would hardly be practicable; 

 and that any man may still " travel" any brute he chooses. 

 Surely the fitting way to meet him will be to start a better 

 horse in opposition. Let the Master and Managing Com- 

 mittee of the County Fox-hounds make it part of their 

 business to see that the district is never without the com- 

 mand of a good sound, thorough-bred stallion '^calculated to 

 get hunters and hacks." Let such a horse, if necessary, b£> 



