Preface. xiii 



marvellous success by adhering to one system — 

 always seeking the best stallions, and by confining 

 the breed to the pure blood of the sons of the 

 desert. 



There is an ignorant notion abroad that the 

 thoroughbreds have degenerated, because so many 

 are broken down before they are four years old. 

 It is no wonder, if we reflect that in these railroad 

 times the young horses a.re destroyed by gallop- 

 ing and racing for ten months in the year, two- 

 year-olds running three and four times in a week. 

 It is the old story — killing the goose for the golden 

 eggs — otherwise there is no deterioration ; on the 

 contrary, the racehorse never was so good. When 

 their equals are to be found, there will be an 

 orthodox feeling for national jealousy. A very 

 absurd crusade has been got up against light 

 weights and short courses. Some writers con- 

 demn the system, on the plea that it is a deteri- 

 oration of the sport, and an encouragement to 

 gamble. This is genuine twaddle, for as far as 

 gambling is concerned, the more interesting the 

 race, the more celebrated the competitors, the 

 higher will be the speculations and the scale of 

 betting. Eacing without gambling is a hypo- 

 critical cant ; every man is a gambler, whether he 

 risks five shilling or five thousand pounds. The 



