BLUE GOWN^S DERBY 125 



of course, give him an answer until I had consulted 

 Sir Joseph Hawley. The latter said he preferred 

 that I should not train for the Marquis, and that 

 was the end of the matter. 



Those were, indeed, exciting times for all 

 associated with racing. There would then be as 

 much money at stake over a ;^ioo Plate as there 

 is nowadays over the Derby itself. A succession 

 of young and wealthy members of the aristocracy 

 came on the Turf at that period, and each seemed 

 determined to outdo his fellows by indulgence 

 in reckless gambling. Several of them were 

 ruined, for a time at least, and went abroad to 

 live quietly while experts took their affairs in 

 hand. It was anything but a healthy state of 

 affairs, and we may be thankful that the Turf is 

 now surrounded by a much calmer " atmosphere.'' 

 I have never countenanced gambling. Betting 

 in moderation is not necessarily objectionable, 

 but I do not hold with those who maintain that 

 racing cannot be enjoyed unless it is accompanied 

 by betting. Some of the finest men I have 

 known on the Turf never made a bet. Racing 

 is a means to an end, and that end is not personal 

 aggrandisement. It is what the French term 

 the amelioration of the thoroughbred. Remove 

 the racecourse test and the noblest of the equine 

 species must inevitably deteriorate, and very 

 rapidly too. Heavy betting always has been, 

 and always will be, responsible for chicanery 



