Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-05-06
RACE HORSES

II has been imagined that the breed { racing
horses has la ely very considerably degenPra-
ted. This is not the case Thorough -bTe d
horses were formerly fewer in number, aud
their performances created greater wonder.
The breed has now increased twenty fold, aud
superiority is not SO easily obtained among so
many competitors. Ifone circumstance could,
more than any other, produce this degeneracy.
il would be our absurd and cruel habit Of
training our horses too soon, and ,hs frequent
failure OF their legs before they have come to
heir full power. Childers and Eclipse did not
sppear until they were five years old but ms
ny OF orr best horses, and those, perhaps, who
! would have shewn equal excellence with the
most celebrated racers, are toundered aud des-
troy ell before hat period.
Whether the introduction of short races, and
so Young horses, b. advantageous, and whe-
Their s,eutness and usefulness may not thus be
somewbat toe much sacrificed to speed "he-
lher there may be danger that an animal de.
stoned for service may, in process OF time, be
f,il,p,ed almost 10 shadow OF what he was, III
order tbe; al Two years old, over the one-mIs-
cou,se he may astonislf the crowd by his fleet
ness-are questions that more concern the
snoring man th&n the agrtutnra"s, ana ye'
they concern the asriculuraDSt 100 lot ,ac'ns
is principally valuable as connectea VIII" o'ee'-
ing, and as the test of breeding
The horse enters into the spirit Iof me race
as thoroughly as does his rider, and, W'lnoo'
whip or spur, will generally exert his ener, 'es
to the utmost 10 beat his opponent II is beau
tiful 10 see him advancing TO the starting posi-,
every motion eyncing his eagernesS. Inc
signal is gwen, and he springs awav-he sell
ties himsefin his stride-the jockey becomes
mart and portion of him, every motion oil me
arms and body corresponding with, and assis'-
ing the action of the horse. On he goes, eager
yeI outstanding his powers. AT length "heh
he arrives al that distance from which the rider
knows tina, he will lire home a the stop ct MS
speed the hint i given, aad he PUSHES linen
the race 10 reality begins and every nerve IS
strained to head his competitor. Then, TOO
comes the art Oft the rider, TO keep the morse
within his pace, and with admirable giee ana
take, add 10 the length OF every stride. Then,
perhaps, the spur skrlfully applied, may be ne
cessary to rouse every dormant energy. a
sluggish lurching horse may need more pun
;shment than the humane observer would thlnR
Unsuitable But the natural ardOT Of the race
horse, reused at the moment OF the gIanu
struggle, by the moderate application oil INT
whip and spar, will bring him through II he car
| win.
Forester will afford sufficient illustration
the natural emulation of the courser.-He ha'
won many hardly contested race at lenglh
oyer-weighed and over.mslched, the rally mac
commenced His opponent who had oee'
waiting behind, was gaining upon him ne over
took him. and they continued quite close Y
| within the distance. II was point that coul'
scarcely be decided. But Forresier's strengt
was failing. He made one desperate plunge
seized his antagonist by the jaw to hold hit
back, and cord scarcely be forced TO quit III
hold. 10 like manner, horse belonging
, Mr.. QniD, in 1853, finding his adversary gr'
dually passing him, seized him by the leg an
both rlders we're obliged to dlsmouni m oroe
to separate the animals. Let us here pans
and ask, would the butchery whipping an
cutting which seems SO often 10 form the 81
pected and necessary conclusion OF the race
the supposed display of the skill OF the r.ue.-
| the exnl,aion of the ihoughless or unieelin
sn.ctator-wouid these have carried sucn no
o .es over one additional inch of ground! Inc
, would have been thrown abroad--ihey won
n have shortened their stfoke-aDd perha
!. would have become enraged and suspense
!. eYeIy pxer,ion. The horse is as suscsP''ote