123 Description of a HORSE-RACE, 
numerous affembly of perfons of fortune and diftindtion, on 
horfe-back, and in gay equipages, on a fine turf, in an o^en 
country, in bright weather : to obferve their evolutions from 
place to place, within a circle of two or three miles, with eager 
eyes to view the horfes in their courfe, is no vulgar entertain- 
ment. The anxious looks of fome, and the wild tranfports of 
others, have fome allufion to a field of battle, without the ter- 
rors of fuch a fcene. 
But whilft this gay pidture affords delight to the lively part of 
both fexes, what a pity it is, that the generous horfe, the moft 
beautiful of the brute creation, fhould be preffed fo unnaturally 
beyond his ftrength ; and more pity ftill that this amufement 
fhould furnifh an occafion of rank villainy ! Jockey and thief 
are, in the ideas of fome people, fynonimous terms : but, alas'! 
if the gentleman feldom treats his friend, and hardly ever an 
indifferent perfon with ftridt honor, in selling a horfe, what 
are we to expedt of thofe who have been bred among horfes ? 
Thole who make a trade of buying and felling thefe animals, 
have generally a worfe reputation than thofe who only ride 
them ; but the fraudulent pradlices committed at races, I am 
affured are a very great reproach to thofe who intereft themfelves 
in them. 
I prefume, madam, you have been often told of gentlemen’s 
gaming very high on thefe occafions, tho’, I thank god, I never 
heard of ladies playing deep, except by meer accident, in love, 
or at cards, at the nocturnal affemblies which attend thefe meet- 
ings. 
Be 
