Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Hunting, Steeple-Chasing and Racing Scenes: Illustrated
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 influence 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 flight over a stiff country. Here also are at various times to be seen the steeple-chasers of the day good, bad, and indifferent, the two latter classes unfortunately predominating, whom their owners, either from necessity or prudence, are anxious to be quit of. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
