Year: 1869

Two Years Old Racing.


That portion of the English community that
is addicted to the sports of the turf are sadly
exercised just now as to the propriety Of run
ming two year olds. The argument on one
side is the liability of colts to break down at
an early period and the general deterioration
of the running horse. The advocates on the
other side, however, assert that no deteriora-
tion in the br eed Of horses is perceptible, and
that the only evil results may possibly be to
colts themselves, whose powers may be over
taxed before their constitutions are thoroughly
formed.


The whole system of racing in Great Britain
differs essentially from that in vogue in this
country. Their courses are entirely different
from ours, both in shape and length, some Of
them Of such singular formations that nothing
is to be seen Of the horses except at the start
and finish. So far as the running of two year
olds in England is concerned it finds just as
much favor with the bookmakers there as if
they had been four year olds or six year olds.


Racing in England at the present day is not
with view to the Improvement of the horse,
as it was fifty or one hundred years ago with
that people. 1t is simply money making
transaction, and nothing more, and whether
horse is injured by running at two years old
or not is never taken into consideration by
them. Racing at two years old in this
country has another object in view.
1t is simply the desire Of certain gen.
+Ioc,av, t~ <oaf tho cuol;ty IF ba;r co1fc Thoco
gentlemen rarely bet on the result They
make no books, their ambition being merely to
excel. Two years old colts in this country run
very few races, and those at short distances,
with light weights; and for this reason the two
years old colt is rarely injured. These races
are for the qualification Of private gentlemen,
however. But the general public-those who
patronize race courses and pay for admission,
and whose memory lies with such great four
mile horses as Eclipse and Henry, Black
Maria, Lady Relief and Triae, Post Boy and
John Bascom, Boston and Fashion, Lexington,
Lecomte, and host of others-want some
thing better than dash of a few furlongs by
unknown youngsters. They want more heat
races, and at long distances, and know very
well that two year olds are not suitable for
snch purposes. 1t is principally for that rea-
son that two year old dashes are declaimed
against by portion Of the community, and not
through fear OF any injury to the breed of the
running horse. There is no system of run
ming that will deteriorate the blood Of the
running horse. The true source of deteriora-
ton is to be found in the breeding and In the
absence of races sufficiently long to test his
capabilities By proper attention in the breed
ing stud, by breeding solely from stations and
mares Of known stamina, and by continual at
tention in that direction the quality of the
horse can be maintained indefinitely and his
powers still further developed.


We are not opposed to dash racing for
amusement solely, as interludes to great
events, such as the four mile heat race, which
should be run at every meeting. These dash
races should be looked upon as mere by-play.
Horses that are unable TO compete In three and
four mile heats should never be used In the
stud, but should undergo process that will
render them suitable for other purposes, and
mares and fllies Of like character should never
be bred from. We are aware Of the fact that
Il costs great deal Of money and time to breed
horse up to proper standard Of perfection;
but liberal inducements to owners Of winning
horses on the part Of racing associations would
soon incite such spirit Of emulation that 1t
would not be great while before we should
see the palmy days Of the race horse in this
country as well as in England restored-the
days when Diomcde ran three five mile heats
with Lottery In l7s3, carrying one hundred and
ffty-eight pounds on his back; when his son,
Duroc, in this country ran five four mile heats,
and two Of his great granddaughters, Black
Maria and Lady Relief, did the same thing.
We probably new have no repeating four milers
among us, but we can soon have them by the
observance OF the rules of selective breeding.
As for two year olds, let them run II their
owners want them to do SO; and IT they get
injured II Is their look out; for In any event II
will not effect deterioration Of the blood either
in this country or Great Britain. Sir Joseph
| Hawley and Admiral Rous may rest easy on
| that point. Still we do not want dashes to


take the place Of legitimate racing, but merely


a. 10 much additional amusement on meeting