240 RACING, PAST AND PRESENT. 
Eclipse or HHighfiyer, who were never beaten. Yet we must 
bear in mind that our system has shown us Crucifix and Bay 
Middleton who in their day knew no superior: and in our own 
times, Galopin and many others, who after years of racing 
retired from the turf without equals—names as much entitled 
to be enrolled in the “blazing scroll of fame’’ as those of the 
never-to-be forgotten worthies of old. 
Formerly gentlemen raced mostly for the pleasure of the 
sport, and not so much for gain; as the total value in 
stakes to the most fortunate could barely be enough to repay 
their expenses. There are now thousands of men who con- 
stitute themselves racing authorities, that probably never 
owned a horse except a hack. Yet these men will bet their 
hundreds and hundreds on other people’s horses: and if not 
right in their Utopian idea, soundly abuse every one connected 
with the animals, to the great detriment of the turf. They 
forget that if two bet, one must lose: and no one can expect 
to hold all trump cards in every honest hand. If a betting 
man, from over speculation, bad luck, or dishonesty, fails to 
meet his engagements, he is, as he deserves to be, tabooed as 
a poltroon, and no more heard of. But let a gentleman 
do the same; the turf is blamed for his accounts, and 
the matter is never forgotten nor forgiven by the enemies 
of racing. 
The turf is at present composed of all grades, from royalty 
to the humblest subject. There are rich commoners and poor 
noblemen; the first racing for position, the others for wealth, 
which either or both may miss or attain, and be eulogised or 
condemned for the manner in which they do it. The safe 
keeping of the best interests of the turf is wisely entrusted 
to the rich and noble; for the poor, though equally 
honest in all their dealings with it, are often the cause of 
