515 
&cbtcto. 
Quid sit pulchrum, quid turpe, quid utile, quid non.— Hor. 
A Treatise on the Care , Treatment , and Training of the English 
Race Horse , in a Series oj Rough Notes. By R* Dar\ ill, 
. V. S. 7th Hussars. London: Ridgway, Piccadilly, 1828. 
WHEN we come to recollect that horse-racing is recounted to 
have formed part of the Olympic games, and to discover that 
those exhibitions were in existence so long ago as upwards of 1000 
years before the birth of our Saviour, it becomes a matter of sur¬ 
prise that our country should stand almost alone in the preserva¬ 
tion of this diversion, and quite and altogether by itself in the 
present refined and accomplished practice of it. W e are not at 
liberty, on this occasion, to extend our inquiries into the origin of 
racing among ourselves, any more than we are to investigate its 
beneficial effects on our breeds of horses, or glance at its influence 
on society: we must confine ourselves to adding our confirmation 
to rather a singular fact stated by Mr. Darvill (one notorious 
enough in the sporting world), viz. “ That among the numerous 
works w hich, from time to time, have issued from the pi ess, no 
treatise has been given on the training of the English race-horse.” 
We agree with Mr. Darvill, that this u omission is not ascnb- 
able to any w r ant of “ importance attached to the subject ; and 
we likewise agree with him, that u a conscious deficiency in prac¬ 
tical knowledge among authors , who, in other respects, might be 
competent to the task,” is one way of accounting for this omis¬ 
sion : but, we think, there is also another reason for it, which is, 
that those who were in possession of this needful “ practical 
knowledge” found themselves incompetent to the task of com¬ 
mitting such knowledge to paper. 
Racing, according to the present systematic mode of pursuing 
it, may be regarded in two points of view:—either as a source of 
amusement and diversion; or, as a field for speculation and gam¬ 
bling. The chief pleasure derivable from a race arises from the 
uncertainty of the event; from the same uncertainty upon which 
the better builds his hopes and gains : and, taking it for granted 
that the contest is a fair and honourable one, a well-conducted 
race, with such cattle as Newmarket affords, is one of the greatest 
treats a sportsman can have, and to the veterinarian furnishes a 
splendid example of the state of perfection to which nature can 
be brought under the scientific conduct of art. But, the race 
must be actually seen to be enjoyed : any account of it, however 
