i6o JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



way influenced by the fact that the Kingsclere 

 Downs did not lend themselves to thorough 

 training operations early in the year. After frost 

 and the ensuing thaw the gallops became rotten. 

 This state of things resulted in our horses being 

 more backward than those quartered elsewhere. 

 We never attempted to train or try yearlings 

 before Christmas, as many stables did, but waited 

 till the spring before we began operations. It 

 followed, therefore, that our two-year-olds were 

 seldom ready to race before June. 



The French plan of prohibiting early two- 

 year-old racing is one of which I entirely approve. 

 An examination of the French Racing Calendars 

 shows that there are more matured horses running 

 in France than there are here. I do not go so 

 far as to say I would advocate the prohibition of 

 two-year-old racing until July or August, but I 

 certainly think we ought to have none before 

 June I, or, say, the Epsom Summer Meeting. 

 If, however, there must be two-year-old races 

 before that date, they should be selling events 

 only until June i. We should then see very 

 few juveniles unduly forced, because if they ran 

 in selling races they would be liable to be claimed. 

 On the other hand the selling races would give 

 owners of little squabby things they have been 

 at the expense and trouble of rearing a chance 

 of getting their money back, or of getting rid 

 of useless stock. Selling races were not meant 



