A Mirror of the Turf; Or, The Machinery of Horse-Racing Revealed, Showing the Sport of Kings as It Is To-DayBertram, James Glass
History
A Mirror of the Turf; Or, The Machinery of Horse-Racing Revealed, Showing the Sport of Kings as It Is To-Day
Bertram, James Glass
Horse racing -- Great Britain
The following somewhat extraordinary extract from one of the sporting
journals of the period indicated will fitly conclude this narration of
a rather disagreeable episode of modern horse-racing: "Let it be noted
that it is capable of proof that his lordship has not lost money on
the turf; that, as a matter of fact, he has absolutely won from most
of the bookmakers; that three of his heaviest creditors have assured
me they have on the balance paid him large sums of money; and that one
gentleman, who paid him last year £24,000, is now out of pocket by his
transactions with him to the extent of £4,000, and cannot even get an
offer of settlement. Let it be remembered also that this defaulter
has from the commencement trifled with, laughed at, and now defies
his creditors; that he owes them thousands of pounds, which they have
little hope of ever recovering; and that he has every prospect of
winning from them, which he will put into his pocket and probably keep
there; and the racing world and the general public have some means of
arriving at a true conclusion as to the honour of a nobleman, and the
prospects, under present laws, of the national sport of England."
RACING REFORM: SIR JOSEPH HAWLEY'S AND OTHER SCHEMES.
I.
Within the last twenty years many schemes of turf reform have been
discussed, and it must be admitted that in the matter of the rules
of racing several wholesale changes have already been made. Instead
of entering upon particulars of what has been accomplished by the
Jockey Club, or indulging in speculations as to what that august body
is probably meditating in the way of farther racing reform, it may
probably turn out that aid has come from an unexpected source, so far,
at least, as one phase of reform is concerned.
The growth of "gate-money meetings" points to the solution of one
vexed question of turf economy, namely, an abatement of several petty
meetings which were once a feature of the racing season. Gate-money
meetings, it must be admitted, are proving wonderfully successful. The
effect of establishing these centres of sport (gate-money meetings)
will ultimately limit the seats of racing; indeed, it is now prophesied
that, after a few years, racing will no longer, as in past times, be
"the free sport of a free people." It is being said that the day is
not far distant when Ascot, Goodwood, and Doncaster will remain--if
they do remain--the only meetings in part open to the non-paying
public. Newmarket may be said to be already moving in the direction of
gate-money.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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