Hunting, Steeple-Chasing and Racing Scenes: Illustrated (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Excerpt from Hunting, Steeple-Chasing and Racing Scenes<br/><br/>IN presenting our little work to the public, it became necessary to choose some frontispiece that might, as it were, afford a theme on which to found our introductory notice; for a preface, like the preparatory canter to the race-horse, serves to give the aspiring author confidence ere he is actually called on to face the reader  we had almost written starter. This selection was a matter of no small difficulty for though scenes representing either one diversion or another are easily pitched upon, we de sired to give something that should embody the idea of the three great English sports, Hunting, steeple-chasing, and Racing. In one spot, and one only, may they all be said to centre, and that spot is Tattersall's. Here the blood sire and brood mare are almost weekly offered for public competition. Here the yearling, though certainly not showing to such advantage as in the green pastures of Hampton Court, Middle Park, East Acton, Knavesmire, or Doncaster, is yet to be seen. And in some sort the latter resorts of pleasure and business to so many connected with the race-horse are mere extensions of the spot we have now under consideration  are Tattersall's out of Town, so to speak  since the same in?uence presides over both. Here the best hunters in the world are yearly offered for public competition; and within the last few years it has been our lot to see exemplified the price that men who mean business will pay for blood, bone, and weight-carrying power. Here we have seen a young and green horse of promise realise the unheard-of sum of £450 for his good looks alone; and this not, be it remembered, with the idea of winning large stakes through his means, but simply to enable one who will not be denied to hold his own in the first ?ight over a stiff country.

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