46 CONDITION. 
Now theory, the only guide that persons not intimately 
conversant with the stable have, which runs so glibly and seems 
so simple, is found utterly untenable when brought to the 
touchstone of practice. To my mind, condition is one of the 
most difficult problems; one that, however great the genius 
of persons differently employed, can only be solved by the 
experienced trainer. There are many gentlemen, owners of 
horses, most excellent judges of shape, make, and breed, equal 
in this respect to any trainer; I may go further and say, better 
than many, but who on condition, “are at sea,” and their 
opinion not of much value. Nor indeed can anything else 
be expected. They have not the opportunity afforded them 
of forming a correct idea, and cannot give one: whereas the 
trainer sees the horses under his charge daily, and knows 
the work each does, and how he does it; whether progress- 
ing towards or receding from the desired object, which should 
ultimately culminate in fitness to run. But the owner can 
know nothing of his horse’s every-day performance at exercise, 
or whether he eats little or much. The utmost extent of his 
information is limited to seeing a gallop or two, or may-be 
a tiial—the latter sometimes is a test of condition, but not 
always ; for many are tried thoroughly unfit, and the result is 
misleading, rather than a clue tothe animal’s real merits. 
It is patent, therefore, that they can know little, if anything, 
about the material points, and that on such insufficient tests 
a trustworthy decision cannot reasonably be expected. And 
if owners of racehorses, with such advantages as they do 
possess, are often so lamentably mistaken, what must be the 
value of the dogmatic and oracular opinion of the uninformed 
public? I think the general verdict must be mine—nothing. 
If this be allowed, it will not be out of place to give one or 
two illustrations of the difference in outward appearance of 
