50 " EQUAL TO BOTH, AISTD ARMED FOR EITHER FIELD." 



racing, tliat it encourages the breed of superior horses. 

 Nonsense. Is it to be supposed that any man will 

 ever breed under the idea of winning a Steeple-race ? 

 Are not men of large fortune, who give their hundred, 

 Inindred-and-fifties, and two hundred for hunters suf- 

 iicient to encourage the breed of superior horses ? I 

 will tell these persons what Steeple-racing does en- 

 courage. It induces certain men to be ahvays on the 

 look out among breeders, farmers, gentlemen's studs, 

 &c., for something they consider to possess first-rate 

 Steeple-racing properties, to buy him at any price, to 

 bring him out, lose a race or two, get heavy odds 

 against him for some good thing, then, much to the sur- 

 prise of most people, win it, win three or four of the 

 best of these good Stakes, and then, when their horse 

 is in the full confidence of their friends and the pub- 

 lic, rob both by again losing — of course only by some 

 pretended accidental circumstance. This in no shape 

 alters public opinion as to the horse's capabilities, or 

 his owner's wish to have Avon. He is again entered 

 for another Stake, goes on well up to the time, never 

 was better or more fit to go. The pot is now put on 

 in good earnest, for this hocussing cannot last for ever 

 with the same horse ; every bet that can be got on is 

 taken : of course he loses, and so does every one but 

 his OAvn party. It will be now said he has a leg^ is 

 laid on the shelf till some opportunity is ripe to bring 

 him out again, when, if intended to lose, he is " quite 

 recovered," is "if any thing better than ever;" he 

 goes, and loses : or taking the other tack, he is stated 

 to be regularly stumped up, but his owner is deter- 

 mined to give him one more fly. He now goes, and 

 wins as it suits his party's book. Success and a halter 

 to them! for, to fill the pockets of such a set, are some 



