The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-14 00:00:00

The Turf and the Scotch, their Courses,
Management, and Sport.

(From Bell's Life in London.)
The racing campaigns in Scotland are the last to begin,
almost the last finish, certainly the last in great results, and
the last to be reviewed ; it may be compared to a screwish
"bad doer" in a stable, who does not always "train on,"
and whose performances are consequently as variable as
they are disappointing and unpleasant. It is therefore re-
quisite to elucidate the meaning of such an unhappy state
of affairs, to probe out the hidden seat of disease, and lay
bare the insidious evil which prevents the realisation of
successful results.
It is really as amusing as it is painfully ridiculous to
observe the peculiarities of mannerism in which the Scotch
persistently stick to ill-founded prejudice against many
things, and eouestrian pleasures in particular. The fol.
lowing may be taken in illustration :—The time was
when prejudice set its austere, rigid features against
female equitation as an unfeminine accomplishment;
however the elite of society patronised its exhilarating plea-
sures, and the ridiculous notion succumbed under popular
prestige. There are, however, still some to be found suffi-
ciently straitlaced who assert that although a ride may be
taken at a walk, or a gentle canter, on an equally gentle
horse at an equestrian promenade, under the Argus• eye of
a chaperon, trotting is a vulgar infringement on deport-
ment, and their sexual position in society, which
no lady should indulge in, and a gentle gallop a violent im-
propriety. It must, however, be admitted that while in-
troducing this as one of the biassed opinions of the past,
there are few now left in support of the once popular theory ;
and the bevies of ladies who daily exhibit their fair forms,
wrapped in the graceful folds of their riding habits, and in-
dulging in all sorts of paces, are most substantial proofs of
its popularity and health •giving properties, as well as the
death-dealing blow to one of the detrimental peculiarities
of the past. Hunting is, perhaps, now considered by
our rigorous friends the least sinful of all manly
sports in which the horse bears a part ; but although it
has latterly, to some extent, grown into a fashionable re-
creation for the elite of society in Scotland, it is still consi-
dered questionable by doubting bigots whether, and to what
extent, professional gentlemen and traders of position and
money ought to indulge their "horsy" proclivities. Pre-
judice is hero again succumbing; but however much the
sport may be rising into general popularity it is to be re-
gretted that its votaries do not sufficiently patronise with
their presence and purse hunt club races and steeplechase
meetings, which help to promote an improvement in breed-
ing horses for the purposes which they specially delight in
Is it then to be wondered at, in the existing state of Scottish
peculiarities, that racing—although there is nothing in itself
to offend or mislead the most fastidious or sensitive—should
continue at such a low ebb, when it is also taken into consi-
deration that many who would like to ind'ulge their natural
desires to witness the exciting struggles for supremacy by
the useful and willing slaves to man's pleasure and profits dare
not do so in face of that characteristic bias which rules the
roast throughout the country ? Many say, in other words,
that they cannot do so without making themselves martyrs
to popular prejudice, and liken themselves to Esau with
Ls mess of pottage, the one sacrificing his birthright, the
other a social position ; there is surely an inherent weak-
ness of mind in crouchingly submitting, like a well-whipped
hound, to the lash of fanatical clamour ; such principles
are like vitiated air, which fumigates the atmosphere of
truth with foulness, and firmly holds down the weak who
breathe its sickening exhalations in abject subjection. The
unbiassed of " position" are, however, beyond its power—
they smell the nauseous taint without submitting to its
influence, and their social health remains. It is of itself
quite sufficient to know that the Turf may, like everything
else, be polluted by occasional abuses without having the
fingers of fanatics and semi-religious bigots scornfully
pointing it out as a foul blot on the escutcheon of their
ideal supposition of respectability. The aristocracy who
patronise racing live and have their being in society after-
wards. 'Why cannot it at once be admitted that others can go
and do likewise ? The bare facts are here simply stated ;it
is for others to reconcile them. False prejudice is a phari-
saical phantom, evanescent as a shadow, which would dis-
appear with the rapidity of one of Professor Pepper's ghosts
if a little more fashion were to head the van and lead the
war against it. Racing at Perth, Ayr, and other places is
considered a cardinal sin, but an introduction to the family
of that noble sportsman at Floors Castle in October, with a
consequent attendance on the Grand Stand at Kelso to wit-
ness the Isthmian games, would be a pleasurable and self-
congratulatory source of enjoyment to many who would
flauntingly disdain to appear at such exhibitions elsewhere,
and as it is customary for royalty, the aristocracy, and the
leading families of England and Ireland to patronise such
sports, it must be left to the calm, unbiassed judgment of
those who have their country's weal at heart to say why it
cannot be more generally accepted as a social branch of the
world's pleasures in Scotland, bearing good or bad fruits
according to the cultivation bestowed on it.
The sports of the past season do not, on the whole, exhibit
any improvement on previous years. "Orange Blossom,"
in his rhyming retrospect of the season, thus summarily
disposes of the matter :
"Of Scottish racing little, save the name, remains, alas 1
I merely say Perth sport was bad, and let the matter pass ;
Still hoping that reform may put on such abuse her strain,
And the days of good Lord Eglinton re-blossom once
again 1"

But little as the sports may have been, it is through the im-
pediments of misconception previously described that the
ragged remnants are as full of darkening shadows as Dela-
croix's picture of "Dante and Virgil entering the Infernal
regions ;" for instead of the joyous saturnalias of the Turf
having their reflection in the countenances of out cautious
friends (as exhibited by the Turf-loving people of merrie
England and ould Ireland), there are thousands here
go to such such meetings with the slyness of area
sneaks indulging in stolen pleasures, and return from
the enjoyment of such festivities with lack-lustre
stolid features, but with an internal chuckling sense of gra-
tification. Can it then be wondered at that the progress of
this noble institution should have been so Blow, and that
money is wanting to bring it out in all its greatness and
integrity ? The patricians of the country are, however, now
gaining a glimmering of its aims and pleasures, and in con-
sequence, there will here and there be found some sunny
bits in the picture to relieve the sombre background. Many
say they would attend the meetings if the sports were
better. But hush I a whisper in the ears of those who
croak so much and do so little; let each and all, according
to their means, contribute to the funds, and an increase in
value of stakes will be followed by an equivalent in the class
of competitors, for past experience proves that money
brings to this side of the border the beet of English race-
horses and their performances aro naturally regarded in a
somewhat different light from those of local merit— the ex,
petted appearances of thorough breds from the South who
have gained a reputation by their performances, are, in
themselves, sufficient at least to arouse the curiosity of the
people as to their appearance, &c., and call for the desire to
witness the abilities of those equine representatives of speed.
Now, accepting such to be an undeniable fact, with the in-
teresting result of producing the best effect en the minds of
a non-racing people. Kelso and Edinburgh are examples
to other places, as they must be regarded as the most flou-
rishing condition of the Scottish Turf, owing to theirmone-
tary value, and annual competition of English horses on
their courses, and the consequent aristocratic and general
public patronage they receive. If some of the officials else-
where would lay aside their "masterly inactivity," inaugu-
rate a wholesome regime, and canvass with the same zeal,
they might each raise their meeting to a similar position.
Kelso is at present the pick of the basket, with Edinburgh
rapidly budding into as equivalent in monetary value and
prestige ; taking then the two as to the best exponents of
that partially awakened feeling for the uses and delights of
racing, it is only fair that they should, without prejudice to
other places, do their best in the good cause—be hold pro-
minently forward as beacons to light up the paths on which
others may unflinchingly tread with similar hopes for suc-
cess; but whatever system may be adopted, it must be inevi-
table that small stakes can only realise competition from local
horses, without being productive of improvement and those
great results for which the turf was inaugurated. It will
therefore be observed that the elements of strength are re-
presented by the quality and quantity of equine blood before
the starter's flag, with money to make the stakes sufficiently
tempting, and a judicious timeing of the fixtures as attrac-
tive loadetones to bring southern horses there, for with the
18 or 20 horses usually training at Gullane, and the few
kept in private elsewhere the interest of the subject is
swamped; it adds not one iota to the improvement of blood
stock, neither does it leave on the minds of the people a ge-
neral feeling of satisfactory engagement. The same horses
competing for stakes at all the race meetings is like living
on cauld kail made hot for a change, with Glauber salts as
an occasional variety ; it purges the people of all sense of
such enjoyments, and by thus weakening the internal tis-
sues of the turf, causes it to droop into inanition for want of
that judicious treatment and nourishing support which it
ought to receive ; but poor asScotland may be, with officials
of perseverance, business habits, and position, appointed at
each place,tho wherewithal can surely be found in the whole
country to supply annually for six meetings that which is
barely equivalent to the value of one in England. Let the
representatives of each place bring their meetings to the bar
of public opinion, and by warmly advocating the cause gain
a favourable money verdict for
.the . coming session, and
Edinburgteh,mpliooralaroy,
ti Iconoclast" will gladly be the historian,of.theircsourncfcoerstseosf,
InstPainYds, grand or
and give to each their weed of praise.
and Airdrie have grand stands erected for the
while Ayr is a spurious. exception, Which prides
house," built of stone
theirwood
wooden
patrons.
erections, Pewr Perth and
ha nd
scarcely Lanark rk
representhave si
paos;:avniedwseparated from the course'
otherwise,
wooden erection in sitistuelaft oennewahr atthiesdti,etramn.ecdo
by a turnpike-road, with, however, a
ad-
dition. It is to be hoped that each place will provide the very
necessary requisite, either through the aids of their corpo-
rations or the friendly and generous assistance of some
tot wc
annual
advane from e
usiume t
h sources,of
oeac h
and ultimately
the local magnates, for in the meantime they lose a certain
amountofrevenutha
revert
the ai ld be created
meeting. Mr. Currie has sanguine hcpes of the corner
stone of such a building being laid ere long at Lanark, and
it is the. cordial wish of all interested in the Turf that his
aspirations may be realised, and that the others will make
running for the same goal; it is also in the interests of each
town that tailzediate support should be accorded for this