BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 51 



when it is made so, it certainly in no way adds to the 

 amusement or gratification of those concerned in, or 

 witnessing it ; quite the reverse, for any one pos- 

 sessing common humanity would turn from such a 

 sight, disgusted at the circumstance, and loathing the 

 perpetrator of it. It is, we all know, very severe 

 exertion for the twelve or fourteen minutes it usually 

 lasts ; but horses in high condition, and properly 

 trained for it, if fairly ridden, do not usually suffer 

 enough to call forth indiscriminate pity. Among 

 other cases, there are two very prominent ones, 

 in either of which the horse unfortunate enough to 

 be engaged, is sure to suffer severely ; the one is, 

 when he is ridden by a gentleman rider knowing 

 little, or perhaps nothing, about what he undertakes ; 

 the other, when some scoundrel, after contriving to 

 get his horse high up in the betting, runs him to lose. 

 In speaking of gentlemen riders, I in no shape mean 

 to include en masse all who ride races under such 

 denomination, for I could mention a great number 

 who can ride as well as the professionals ; when 

 this is the case, we will hope superiority of edaca- 



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