131 
ON BREEDNIG HORSES, &C. 
have always looked upon them as being established for the purpose 
of causing the race-horse to be bred with the power to carry weight, 
and as an encouragement of adherence to that blood possessing the 
quality of endurance in the highest degree; and, as the weights 
were previous to the late alteration, undoubtedly such prizes stood 
as a reward to the best horses in the kingdom possessing these 
qualifications. And as, in former days, before such large stakes as 
are now raised by private subscription were run for, the amount 
bore a fair proportion with the sums contended for in other stakes, 
and then had the effect of bringing together moderate fields ; but, 
as the disproportion in these prizes to other stakes increased, so 
did the fields become reduced for the royal plates, it being not un- 
common for a horse to walk over or meet with some insignificant 
competitor for a succession of these prizes. Even then, however, 
the prize went to the proper purse, that of the owner of the horse 
best qualified for these races, although the public felt some disap- 
pointment for want of competition. Now, I am an advocate that 
these royal prizes should be continued, not only on account of 
stamping the truly national sport of horse-racing with the highest 
character; but now knowing that, if placed upon a proper footing, 
they will answer the end intended, and which, in my opinion, is a 
material one. That the shortening the distances and lowering the 
scale of weights will produce the greatest amount of sport, as the 
prizes now stand, I do not doubt; but, proceeding with this view 
alone, will, I am convinced, give a disposition to the breeding of 
the race-horse for speed only, consequently leave unregarded the 
size and power necessary to $arry weight, and particularly since 
most of the great stakes are handicaps. A weed of a horse, pos- 
sessing speed, has many opportunities of winning a large stake, 
consequently there will not be that inclination to produce a more 
powerful animal, the means of doing which come more expensive ; 
and therefrom arises a disposition or bias to breed from parents 
destitute of these qualities, if no further encouragement is held out 
to promote this end than now exists, viz., that of breeding the de- 
scription of animal destined for the general improvement of the 
race. 
It would be folly to suppose that the present system of racing 
could be changed entirely. The object, as it now exists, is to in- 
crease the amount of speculation more than to improve the breed of 
horses, which, as connected with the turf, can only be effected by 
increasing the amount of these plates, and keeping up the weights. 
The distance (four miles) of many of the old plates I think rather 
too far with the higher scale of weights ; nor do I approve of the 
system of running heats. If there be any cruelty in racing, as 
some choose to assert, it is in this, and this only. How often have 
