136 BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 



for a fall, going the wrong side a flag, being short 

 of weight, or many other things, might, if such 

 happened to both, give him the race, and if it 

 occurred to one, it would give him second place, by 

 which, in most cases, he would save his stake ; but 

 if four or five were before him, any man of sense 

 would at once pull up when he found his chance 

 was out, for precarious as is steeple- chasing, the 

 odds against mishap to so many would be too great 

 to be contemplated ; a very silly youth might, and 

 would, probably severely distress his horse to get as 

 near as he could, and very likely lay him up 

 for a season by so doing, get laughed at for his 

 folly, and very properly censured for his inhumanity. 



Numerous cases might be brought forward where 

 a foolish vanity often occasions much distress to 

 horses : but the proposed limits of this book will 

 only permit one or two to be stated as samples. 



We often see persons with a poor, weak and tired 

 animal in harness, urging him on to keep pace with 

 that of another, possessed of strength, speed, and 

 high condition ; and such persons seem to think 



