272 ON RACING. 



his disappointment could be accounted for 

 in one or other of these ways. 



One of the most remarkable features in 

 the development of the Turf as a national 

 institution is the tremendous increase in the 

 value of the stakes contended for ; and the 

 question naturally occurs whether this has 

 been advantageous or prejudicial to the 

 Turf's best interests? For my own part, I 

 should welcome, were it possible, a return 

 to its primitive simplicity in every depart- 

 ment of the sport. The more racing can 

 be kept to its proper function and metier, 

 sport pure and simple, and the less it is 

 allowed to become a business and specula- 

 tion (at present it partakes largely of the 

 character of both), the less inducement there 

 is to owners and managers of studs to cheat, 

 dissemble, and run cunning ; and also the 

 less temptation to the credulous and over- 

 sanguine in the reports of fabulous fortunes 

 made, as it were, in a moment out of what 



