view raw text
LONG-DISTANCE RACING IN ENGLAND. Mr. Joseph Osborne "Beacon", writing twenty years ago. had something to say aliout four-mile races, and his remarks arc worth reproducing just now. "Beacon" wrote: . "It is much to be doubted If any or our great performers could stand at all the terrible strain of several two, three, and four-mile heats in one day. Some of the old contests were of extreme severity: nor must it be lost sight of how many horses are knocked out for the rest of the season nowadays as the result of one severe contest. Admiral Rous, as Is well known, held a different view from General Peel and had the greatest contempt for these racing gods of the old generation of Englishmen, and utterly disbelieves in tlie racing merits of Uhilders and Eclipse. He believed, in short, that the English thoroughbred was going ahead in every particular, including size. The Admirals, brother, the Earl of Stradbroke. who enjoyed an experience equally great, differed from him, however, and said before the Lords committee that he believed horses had deteriorated of late years. Queens Plates were originally given for horses to carry heavy weights and run "long distances. In the last century and In the begiuning of this century there were a great many valuable horses that could run three or four miles without the slightest trouble or injury of any kind, hut now that description of animal does not exist. My linn belief is that there arc not four horses in England now that could run over the Beacon course four miles, one furlong. 138 yards at Newmarket within eight minutes, which in my vounger days I used to see constantly done. Lord Stradbrokes experience, commented Mr. Osborne, in breeding extended over sixty years."
