The Portland daily press., 1875-08-30
THE PRESS.
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Horse Racing.

The value of nearly every material move
m ent, or physical activity with which man is
connected, depends mainly upon its results.
No matter what the controllin, design may
have been, or the methods of accomplish
ment, whether digniied or simple, evil or
good, it would be alike contrary to sound
philosophy or common sense to suggest any
other standard. We only enunciate COM
mon truth which needs neither illustration
nor confirmation in saying that many things
are of harmless nature and perhaps iptrin-
sically right of themselves, which neverthe-
less produce mischievous tendencies, or may
easily be deformed and distorted away from
their original image and likeness. 1t is also
true that for all such perversions some hon
est and well meaning man is frequently re-
sponsble, and can be held 10 stric: ac
countability; and it is well for the response
bility to rest upon him who voluntarily as
sumes it, or who innocently or indifferently
allows it to come upon him.
But returning directly to our subject, we
will see if we understand what horse race
Is, or If we are able to describe it impartially
and correctly. This is the beginning of the
transaction; horses are selected which are
supposed or known to possess uncommon
speed, and generally an uncommon price is
paid for them on that account; as they are
usually taken from the plow, the truck, or
the carriage, they are thus removed from the
ranks of productive industry and no more la
Dor is to be expected or derived from them.
They are then placed in course OF training
designed to rid them if possible from all de-
fects, and to develop and strengthen the
single quality of speed. To do this surely
and skillfully, it becomes absolutely neces-
sary to withdraw some suitable men from
their accustomed business, in order that they
may devote all their attention to the train
ing and instruction of their unlearned pupils
Neither time, pains, or expense must be
spared to cultivate all desirable qualities,
aud to hide or overcome everything unfavor-
able in this one direction.
In this suggestive connection we cannot
forbear from saying, what race of men
might be created or developed, soldiers, sail
ors, mechanics, farmers or business men,
were the same attention bestowed upon them
which single animal often receives!
When real or reasonable degree of per-
fection has been reached in our training
school, and when the term of instruction
draws to close, an exhibition or display Of
the natural or acquired talents become inds-
pensable for public and private good. For no
man having lighted candle is justified in
hiding it from the eye of the multitude under
bushel; why should he selfshIy or soul
lessly appropriate everything TO himself,
and shut out the rest of mankind from all
valuable possessions? In order therefore,
that the public may be accommodated,e extern
sive grounds must be obtained, buildings and
seats erected, and long stretch of level, hard
track built, either of clay, gravel, or some
close and firm substance well fitted for
wheels or hoofs, and usually designated with
harmonious appropriateness, as sthe turf
Now set day is appointed, large prizes are
offered, half dozen or dozen feet horses
are entered on the lists, thousands leave their
employments for the better part of day,
crowd all manner Of public and private con-
veyances to the grounds, pay liberal en-
trance fee-here in the heat and dust, on
hard crowded seat, or standing amid an ex
cited and surging crowd, the spectator sees
the animals entered for the contest, driven
over the course under various degrees of ur-
gency or persuasion-and then the show is
over. All present might testify as the actual
result-the accomplished fact of the day that
the several horses succeeded in reaching the
goal at very rapid pace, and in a very short
time. with only few seconds difference
This is the sum and substance of the whole
matter. We have described the average per-
formance; sometimes it is varied by the pre-
sencc of diSorderly, drunken, land blasphemous
scoundrels who rob each other of their money
by betting, or by actually abstracting their
pocket-books, or who bruise aud batter them
selves in accordance with the rules of the
"manly art" and afterwards may be found
lying around loose on the grounds in semi
quiescent condition. l. is not unfrequently
the case as an additional feature of the pro-
ceedings, that the painting and distressed ami
mails over-driven and much-abused, drop
dead on the course, or on account of brok-
en- limb or other serious injury, are disabled
Tor life, or mercifully killed. Sometimes, also,
by accident or design, collision occurs be-
tween the vehicles of the rival jockeys, occa-
sioning sad results to themselves either in the
loss of life or limb.
In reviewing the full results of such trans
actions as We have described, we are driven to
the conclusion, that no benefit is derived
from them either by the state, by society, or
by the individual; and in the interests of po-
ltical economy, public morals, and the fun
dameptal principles of care and order, they
should neither be encouraged, or patronized.
Viewed as business matter, it can only be
regarded as involving loss; as drain upon
Industry of the man and the natl n no profit
appears to any party except the few who
give no farthing of equivalent for the large
sums taken from defrauded multitude. 1t
is system of waste, without one iota of gain
to balance it, and in the long run, the city or
town which welcomes it as heaIthful or
helpful institution in its onward prosperity,
will find that it cannot we'll be divorced from
the grog-shop, the gambling-room or the
hrothel. II the plea were entered that this
matter belongs in the catalogue of amuse-
ments, entertainments and recreations, aud
therefore no return in dollars and cents is to
be expected; we must reply on the contrary,
every thing is hard, dry and unrefreshing ;and
that all that gives zest to the occasion springs
from the few moments of animal excitement
which result from the excitement of animals;
and it is an amusement, it is outside of the
pale OF civilization, possessing only the mega
tive virtue of being little better in quality
than pugilism, the bull fight or the bloody
games of the arena.
We have thus expressed our views, not in
condemnation of trials of the speed of horses,
but of horse-racing as it i5 almost everywhere
conducted. Speed is an important element
to be considered in making up the value of
horsefesh; and we think there are appropriate
times and places for the public exhibition of
it. BY the introduction of railroads, men are
not only transported more rapidly than for
merly, but they must themselves move with
greater swiftness towards them; and thus for