172 RACING, AS A MEAN'S OF 
from acting in the matter with discretion. Influenced with the 
consideration of their produce running for stakes, they bring 
them up in a manner which hastens their development. They 
force their growth by every means their art suggests; in which 
respect they resemble skilful gardeners, who force the growth 
of vegetables upon hot-beds and under frames. Training is well 
regulated; and a tonic regimen is exhibited, causing the develop- 
ment of the muscular system, which becomes so vigorous that it 
grows disproportionately to the osseous, tendinous, and ligament- 
ous systems, whose vital action is more tardy than that of 
the other tissues. The result of this in these young subjects 
is, ruptures, distentions of the bursal structures connected with 
the tendons and ligaments, diseases of the bones, whose so- 
lidity and epiphyses are not as yet perfected. And how can it 
be otherwise] These organs are expected to offer resistance, 
notwithstanding their defective solidity, to the efforts of the 
muscles called forth during the race. 
In England it is customary to run horses at two years of age. 
In order to prepare them, they are forced to be mounted at the 
age of eighteen months, a period when the tissues are so want- 
ing in consistence. And since we have been imitators of the 
English in this vicious practice, we bring our racers to the post 
at three years old, and consequently are obliged to put them into 
training at thirty months. One might think that this train- 
ing being so gradual, was not injurious. But such practice, 
although somewhat later in life, is no less forced. And it is a 
pity that the state encourages such hurtful practices by the 
prizes they award to racers. They are contrary to the most 
elementary laws of the perfectionment of animals. Added to 
which, it may be remarked, that blood horses are more tardy 
in their development than half or mongrelbred horses. This 
drawback on the production of good horses did not escape the 
observation and genius of Napoleon. When he, by his decree, 
instituted racing, he forbid the trials of any horses prior to their 
fifth year. And this principle still held good in the regulations 
concerning races made 27th of March, 1820. 
In conclusion, it is our opinion, that, 
1. Racing may be made to serve as a test of the worth of 
stallions, and may conduce to the improvement of breed; but to 
this end it should be honestly conducted, well studied, and 
adapted to the capabilities of the kinds of animals employed in 
it. 
2. The mode of racing practised at the present day does not 
conduce to the end proposed by Napoleon, according to his 
establishment of it in 1805. It is imposssible that horses 
reared in the artificial manner racers are for this especial pur- 
