The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-06-28
Horse.Racing In England.

The friends of "trials of speed" in this
country often allude to the popularity Of
the turf in England, and to that the fact
that the aristocracy and government offici-
ais there patronize "the races" In late
number of the London Times, an article
was published written by admiral H. s.
Rouis, in reply a statement by Sir j..
Hawley, in which remedies are discussed
for certain evils which are acknowledged
to result from the present management of
the turf in England. Admiral Rous be-
lieves that his propositions for reform will
respond to Sir Hawley's accusation That
the public are now convinsed the present
system in no way tends to improve the
breed of horses, but is one of simple gam
ling, and that in this state of things the
Jockey Club silently acquiesce'
Whether the proposed remedies will
prove effectually in England, is matter
which concerns US less than the question
of the the effect of racing on the morals
of those who engage in the sport, as we
know of no reason why the same cause
should not produce the same result here,
that it has done there The Admiral
says -
There is Il general feeling throughout
the country that racing has affected the
morals of almost every branch of society
and that betting has been widespread
evil sanctioned by the Jockey Club, 81:
j. Hawley officially states that tracing
is no longer national SPORT This is
difficult to comprehend, because the
followers and admirers of the turf have in
creased 1000 per cent, during my time
He says " it has became a mere trade
with most of its followers" lit ha!
always been a trade; from 1858 to 1855
it was rafting trade, tor one Of my
friends won $4,000. Last year, owing
to death and default. it was diminished
80 per cent, but out of evil some gooC
arose. The large sums of money a
stake stimulated the breeders to spar,
no expense in producing the best articl'
and they have succeeded From 1869
shall date the decline Of race horses
they have this year fallen 40 per cent, il
value, and it will not considered goo,
speculation to breed by frst-class stal
lions. The breeders will be PARTIAL.
ruined. The Jockey Club do not ''acqui
esce in these gambling transactions" al
though they cannot repudiate them. Fo
thirteen years they have struggled t.
emancipate themselves from all respon
sibility. Vain efforts 1t is like tn
tunic of Nessus on the sholders Of Her
cluse there it will stick.
His remedy is that it shall be illega
for horse to contend in public for
smaller prize than 100 pounds, and tina
every person winning sum as high a
100000 on single race shall forfei
that amount to the informer, to be sue
in Her Majesty's courts. The remed
proposed may mitigate the evil, but
will DO no means effect e cure. Societ
itself must change before the public pulls
} becomes healthy.-[New England Farm
er.
; In some remarks on this letter, tn
Turf, Field and Farm" Of New Yorl
an advocate of racing, and an apologi'
for betting, says =
Unable to do away with betting, tru
wisdom seeks to control it in measure
Admiral Rous thinks that the evil ,
heavy speculation, unless checked, wi
eventually destroy the turf. In the la
) two years it has brought ruin to man
families of wealth and aristocratic pos
And forseeing the calamity, the Admir-
proposes a plan to avert it.