EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
41 
THE AGE OE THE RACE-HORSE AS INDICATED BY HIS 
TEETH. 
We consider the question raised by Air. Goodwin in his 
communication, to be one of great importance, both to the 
veterinary profession and the supporters of the turf. We 
need hardly remind our readers that, according to the laws 
of the Jockey Club, an animal born antecedent to the 1st of 
January in any year, without reference to the precise date of 
its birth, is at that time considered a year old ; or, in other 
words, the age of all thorough-bred horses is dated from the 
first day of the new year. 
The position which has been taken in the betting circle by 
“ Umpire/ 5 a horse foaled out of the country, and one 
remarkable for the general development of his frame, has 
naturally raised the question, whether the dentition of a 
two-years old will, at any time before the completion of the 
year, afford satisfactory evidence to a scientific examiner of 
his having been foaled two or three months before or subse¬ 
quent to the 1st of January? 
After considerable experience connected with dentition, 
we unhesitatingly answer, that so near an approximation to 
the exact age of a horse is not afforded by the teeth, either 
between two and three years old, or at any other period of 
the animal’s life; although a good judge, being guided by 
the time of the year he was making his examination, and 
other collateral circumstances, will most likely not greatly 
err in the opinion which he may give. 
In the case in question, we believe that no doubt of the 
animal’s age having been correctly given is now entertained, 
and that the best scientific evidence obtainable has fully 
borne this out. Nevertheless, this leaves the problem still 
unsolved. If dentition cannot be implicitly relied upon, 
surely, as suggested by Mr. Goodwin, some addition to the 
means now at our disposal should be made, so as to protect 
the racing world against fraud; and we cannot see why the 
owners of thorough-bred horses should not be required to 
fill up certificates, to be returned to the Jockey Club on 
their entrances for our great races, setting forth the names of 
6 
XXXIII. 
