30 INFLUENCE OF THE TURF 



fly for five furlongs, but which has no 

 stamina or staying power, and breaks down 

 through unfair pressure at an age when his 

 predecessor on the Turf was just running 

 into his best form. The vexed question 

 whether the modern racer would prove as 

 stout as his progenitors, if he were given 

 the chance to mature, is one we need not 

 discuss, since he seems unlikely ever to be 

 given that chance. It is no exaggeration 

 to say that nine-tenths of our racehorses 

 are hopelessly and helplessly used up before 

 reaching maturity. Then they are sent to 

 the stud, Avhich is flooded with speedy 

 broken-down crocks and jades, nervous and 

 irritable in temper, their constitutions im- 

 paired, and joints and ligaments strained 

 and injured by the severity of their early 

 training. 



Greed and gambling are, of course, re- 

 sponsible for this. So long as racing 

 was indulged in by the noble and 



