POPULAR NOTIONS OF FITNESS, 91 
CHAPTER XI. 
PREPARATION (continued). 
The public and their estimate of fitness—The duty imposed on the trainer—Evils 
of running unprepared—Running “big” and “‘light”—How Mr, John 
Scott beguiled the public ; instances: The Era, Michael Scott—My father’s 
system and instances—Inferences drawn from the training of the pedestrian— 
Prejudice of owners for ‘‘ big” condition—Example in my own experience 
of ‘‘big” and ‘‘light” preparation—Severe preparation not necessarily 
harmful—Evils of ‘‘big” condition—Work done in old times—Iustances in 
support of my theory: Fugitive, Historian, Oxonitan—Successes with my 
stable in past times ; list of the stakes won, and of the winners; horses pre- 
pared by me and subsequently sold, and prices; their subsequent perform- 
ances—Abuse of severe preparation ; horses run too often—Comparison of 
two- and three-year-old running: Weatherbound and Dulcibella—Keasons for 
my insistence on ‘‘ light’ preparation—Any general rule necessarily imperfect 
—Farming and training compared. 
No trainer, even the most sanguine, can ever hope to 
bring his horse to the post in a condition to please all 
parties. His employers are satisfied seldom, and other 
people never. Before every race his horses are too big, 
like a bullock, or too poor, or galloped or starved to death. 
But the winner in whatever condition is unreservedly praised. 
There are two things we as trainers have to guard against: 
the first is, the displeasure of our employers: the second, the 
running of our horses unfit—both unwelcome things; but of 
the two, rather than do the latter knowingly, I would submit 
as cheerfully as I could to the former. If you run half fit, 
