AND THE PKESENT DAY 15 



meetings. Trainers and jockeys are at present 

 much bigger men than their masters ; and why ? 

 because they allow them to be so ; they may owe 

 them a long bill, or be foolishly good-natured in 

 putting their servants on the same footing as them- 

 selves by undue familiarity — * Hail fellow well 

 met ' with them. 



Eacing will never be what it was again, for the 

 reasons I have mentioned. Speculation is too rife 

 to allow it a healthy tone. Shortly but few gentle- 

 men will be left as racing men, and the turf will be 

 represented by the lower five, and men to whom 

 the meaning of the words honour, honesty, principle, 

 and conscience, are unknown. 



Coursing too, a healthy and fine amusement, even 

 this cannot be enjoyed without the presence of the 

 betting fraternity, bawling and shouting. A clean 

 sweep should be made of them. 



Pigeon-shooting as well. Although I am not an 

 admirer of this pastime (sport I will not call it), 

 yet one cannot stroll down to Hurlingham or the 

 Bush, to look on, but what one must be pestered 

 with odds offered on the gun or bird. Your shady 

 and doubtful betting men are nuisances. Who on 

 earth wants to lose a lot of money to moneyless 

 scoundrels ? But there are fools who do so, and 

 they deserve to be fleeced. 



