The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

Terriers of even the best blood are now bred of all colours; red, black, (with tan faces, flanks, feet, and legs;) brindled sandy; some few, brown pied, white pied, and pure white; as well as one sort of each colour, rough and wire-haired; the others, soft and smooth; and, what is rather extraordinary, the latter not much deficient in courage with the former; but the rough breed must be acknowledged the most severe and invincible biter of the two. Since fox-hunting is so deservedly and universally popular in every county where it can be enjoyed, these faithful little animals have become so exceedingly fashionable, that few stables of the independent are seen without them. Four and five guineas is no great price for a handsome, well-bred terrier; and a very short time since, seven puppies were sold at the Running-horse livery-stables, in Piccadilly, for one-and-twenty guineas; and these, at this time, is as true a breed of the small sort as any in England.

With every established pack of fox-hounds there is seldom to be seen less than a brace of terriers; and, for the best of reasons, one is generally larger and stronger than the other; in a small earth, where one cannot enter, the other may. With the hounds, in endeavouring to find, as well as during the chase, their exertions are incessant and indefatigable; and although the fleet pack shall be carrying the scent breast high at the top of their speed, these instinctive devotees to the sport are seldom far behind them. When a fox is run to earth, it is the province of the terrier to follow, and lay at him; as, by the baying of one at the other, the ear will soon be informed, whether the fox lays deep, or near the surface; and those who are employed in digging him out, will be enabled and encouraged to proceed accordingly. In fidelity, sagacity, courage, as well as the most incredible endurance of fatigue and hunger, they are inferior to no one particular tribe of the canine species.

When it was the custom formerly to take the field so soon as the horsemen could see to ride, trail was the sure and certain means by which the hare was found: in a few minutes after the hounds were thrown off, a general clamour of trail ensued, and the inexpressible gratification of seeing all the clue of her night-work unravelled to a view, was sport much superior to a bad chase. Trail is of much less import now, when harriers (at least, in the centrical part of the kingdom) are seldom known to take the field before ten or eleven o'clock in the day, when the very slight and partial remains of trail can be but of small avail: the sole reliance now principally depends upon drawing over the ground most likely, according to the season, with the chance of having a hare found sitting, or the greater probability of her jumping up before them. The paltry custom of field money for hares found sitting, has very considerably warped the judgment from the sporting-like practice of finding the hare by trailing up to her; for the huntsman and whipper-in having caught the pecuniary infection, are poking and prying in every bush, in a hope and eager expectation of obtaining a few shillings, instead of attending to their hounds.

The morality and aggregate of virtues so peculiarly appertaining to the profession, being placed in the back-ground of the picture; admitting in this, as in all others, that there are men of strict honor, and unsullied integrity, who do not deviate from the path of rectitude in private transactions; yet the broad road of temptation is a dangerous track, and very few there are who are able to withstand it. It is a long-standing maxim, that "those who play at bowls must expect rubs:" so those who make the embarkation, must abide the consequence. Certain it is, that the business (or rather art) of TRAINING, was never before brought to its present pitch of perfection; but the expence is (with the collaterals attendant upon it) so enormous, that nothing but an immensity of wealth can stand against it. Training has of late years undergone many changes, and much refinement; but in none more than the early age at which COLTS and FILLIES are brought to the post. Very far within the knowledge of the present generation, no colt was ever taken in hand till he was three years old to be made quiet for breaking; and he was never thought capable of being brought to the post for a racing contest, previous to some part of his fifth year. On the contrary, many are now taken in hand at eighteen months old; some few run a short match before they have attained the second year; more run when rising three: and plates, subscriptions, and sweepstakes, are common for three year olds from one extremity of the kingdom to the other.

This constantly increasing and invincible thirst for racing popularity, by which so many of the finest horses are crippled before they come to their prime, has constituted such a sterility, or drawback, upon the usual supplies for the chase, that the value of even common hunting horses has increased beyond all former example. The present system of training is considered so truly scientific, that one general jealousy is known to prevail amongst its professors of every denomination: the same secresy which pervades one establishment, is, by the spirit of emulation, (or infection,) communicated to every other; and the hour that stimulates one stable lad to action, regulates the rest in every training-stable through the kingdom. The serjeant or corporal's guard in the best disciplined military garrison of his Majesty's dominions, cannot be more precise, more critically exact to time, than the training lads are to stable hours. At the first dawn of day, every somniferous sensation is shaken off, and each is in his stable by the time he has day-light sufficient to brush over his horse: this done, and the quantity of corn he is allowed consumed, the ceremony of exercise is proceeded upon, where his walking, galloping before and after water, take place, in time and distance, according to the age, state of flesh, and his condition; all which are nicely attended to, and his work proceeded upon in proportion. At his return, the dressings, leg rubbing, and every minute part of stable discipline, is regulated to a degree of admiration; when which is completed, the feeding over, and the stable set fair, silence prevails; the door is closed, and firmly secured; the horse being left free from every thing that can possibly afford disturbance; and this as much before six in the morning, as it can be accomplished according to the season of the year. A short ceremony of the same kind takes place about three hours after. Twelve at NOON, regular brushing over, feeding, and setting all fair, again take place; being then once more close locked till FOUR, when the first ceremony of the morning, air, exercise, and water, are again repeated; the regular routine succeeds in the stable, which is closed as near to the hour of six as possible. When the perpetual prompter announces the hour of eight, it is the signal for racking up: this neatly and expeditiously performed, an early hour of rest is the invariable rule, that all parties may be the better enabled to enter upon the business of the morning.

Such is the diurnal ceremony of training; varying the length and speed of the morning gallops by the flesh, wind, substance and condition of the horse; with such intervening Sweats (which see) as circumstances may justify, or render necessary; in all which, training grooms of the best judgment, and most industrious observation, are liable to err. Horses are seen to train on, others to train off; or, in plainer terms, some horses have great speed at three and four years old, who never make a display of any after; and many have made no promise in the first or second year of their running, who afterwards became most capital racers. As a recent instance of this, reference may be made to "Sir Solomon," which see. No small degree of penetration is necessary to ascertain when a horse is trained the nearest to the utmost point of his SPEED; most horses are over trained, and are, of course, the likeliest to be beaten, or lamed, whenever they are brought into competition with a powerful opponent; who, by having been less trained, is more above his work; or, in other words, better adapted to difficulty, and a severe struggle for victory, should it happen to ensue.

Young Traveller was bred by Mr. Coatsworth, foaled in 1746, got by Old Traveller, dam by Bartlet's Childers. The last Traveller was bred by Mr. Hutchinson, foaled in 1785, and got by Highflyer, dam by Henricus, who was got by Black and all Black. In 1789, when four years old, he beat a son of Orpheus over New Malton, one mile and a half, for 100 guineas. Two days after, he won a sweepstakes of 10 guineas each over Malton, beating four others. The next day he won a 50l. Plate, beating three others. At York he won the Stand Plate of 50l. beating Cavendish, Spangle, and a son of Orpheus. In the August York Meeting he won the City Plate of 50l. added to a subscription purse, beating Gustavus, and six others. He was then purchased by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; and in the Houghton Meeting at Newmarket, beat the Duke of Bedford's Grey Diomed over the Beacon Course for 500 guineas.

In 1790, Craven Meeting, Newmarket, he walked over the Duke's Course for a subscription of 50 guineas each, eight Subscribers, half forfeit. Second Spring Meeting, he beat Lord Grosvenor's Meteor, over the Beacon Course, 500 guineas. Newmarket first Spring Meeting, 1791, he received 400 guineas forfeit from Meteor, with whom he was matched for 1000 guineas over the Beacon. After which he was travelled long journies to the North, where meeting the most celebrated horses fresh upon their own training-ground, he was repeatedly beat, but ran handsome. In 1792, first Spring Meeting, he received 100 guineas forfeit from Cavendish, and was withdrawn from the turf.

Trials between horses of superior qualifications, preparatory to their being engaged in matches or stakes of magnitude, are always considered matters of great consideration, and for which the most serious preparations are made. Upon the issue of such trials, engagements are sometimes entered into, upon the termination of which, many thousands eventually depend. It is therefore matter of indispensible necessity, they should not only be run with the most energetic opposition, but that the superiority in speed should be fully and clearly ascertained. Trials of this description are always conduced with the utmost secresy; for the better preservation of which, they generally take place at the very dawn of day, so soon as the lads can see to ride with safety; and these trials are considered of so much consequence at Newmarket, that if any feeder, rider, groom, stable-lad, or any other person concerned, is known to discover the result, or shall be detected in watching trials himself, or procuring other persons so to do, he is dismissed the service of his master with every stigma of disgrace, and rendered incapable of being again employed by a Member of the Jockey Club in any capacity whatever. See Jockey Club.

Although trotting is admitted one of the natural paces of a horse, yet it will admit of great improvement, by the persevering exertions of art. It is a long-standing remark, that "a butcher always rides a trotter;" and why is it? because they invariably make them so: they in general ride them no other pace: they all know they have the credit of "making trotters," and they are incessantly alive to the preservation of their professional reputation. That horses may be taught, by time and patience, to exceed their original trotting, two or three miles an hour, is as certain, as that blood horses exceed their former speed a full distance in four miles by training. It is within the memory of many, that fourteen miles within an hour was thought excellent trotting, and fifteen was considered a wonderful performance, all which is long since buried in oblivion, by the almost incredible exploits of the last few years.

Famous trotters have undoubtedly been produced from different parts of the kingdom; but Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, are said to have exceeded all others in their proportion; and this may probably with justice be attributed to those famous trotting stallions, "Old Shields," "Useful Cub," and "Hue and Cry," who principally covered that scope of country. The celebrated trotter Archer was descended from Old Shields; he was a remarkably strong horse, master of fifteen stone, and the fastest trotting horse of his time; but was cruelly destroyed, by being inhumanly matched to trot upon the road sixteen miles within the hour in the midst of a very severe frost: the poor persevering animal performed it in less than fifty five minutes; but the violent concussions sustained by the body, and the battering upon the feet by the dreadfully hard state of the road, produced symptoms which soon put a period to his existence.

A brown mare, the last proprietor of whom was Mr. Bishop, trotted upon the Epsom road, sixteen miles in fifty-eight minutes and a half, carrying twelve stone; and it was then said to have been the first time that distance had ever been trotted within the hour. In 1791, being eighteen years old, she trotted on the Essex road, sixteen miles in fifty-eight minutes and some seconds, beating a famous trotter of Mr. Green's for fifty pounds; and it was the opinion of the sporting parties concerned, that she would have trotted thirty miles within two hours; a distance which was actually trotted in two hours and ten minutes, by the celebrated chesnut mare of Mr. Ogden's. A grey mare, called the Locksmith's, trotted seventy-two miles in six hours. In 1793, a grey mare, of Mr. Crocket's, trotted one hundred miles in twelve hours, and had twenty minutes to spare. A five year old, son of young Pretender, (who was got by Hue and Cry,) trotted in Lincolnshire, sixteen miles in fifty-nine minutes, carrying fifteen stone.

In April, 1792, a bay gelding, called Spider, and an old chesnut gelding, called Cartwright, near thirty years old, trotted thirty-two miles in two hours between Stilton and Cambridge. Spider trotted the first twenty-four miles in one hour twenty-eight minutes and a half, and the old horse the remainder. It was supposed they could have trotted thirty-four miles within the time agreed on. In 1797, Mr. Dyson made a bet of 100 guineas with Mr. Fagg, that he would produce a mare which should trot upon the road between Cambridge and Huntingdon seventeen miles within the hour: the experiment was made on the 7th of August in that year, and the mare lost by one minute and four seconds only. On the 13th of June, 1799, a trotting match was decided over Sunbury Common, between Mr. Dixon's brown gelding and Mr. Bishop's grey gelding, carrying twelve stone each, which was won by the former, having trotted the eight miles in twenty-seven minutes and ten seconds. Extraordinary as these performances have been, no less entitled to recital, is a bet made by Mr. Stevens, which was decided on the 5th of October, 1796, that he would produce a pair of horses, his own property, that should trot in a tandem from Windsor to Hampton Court, a distance of sixteen miles, within the hour: notwithstanding the cross country road, and great number of turnings, they performed it with ease in fifty-seven minutes and thirteen seconds.

In 1795 appeared ten winners of twenty-two prizes, amongst whom were Ploughator, Oateater, and Trumpeter; the first and last of which were then only two years old. In 1796, thirteen of his produce started, and were the winners of thirty-eight plates, matches, and sweepstakes. Of these, Aimator won 500 guineas, 400 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket. Didelot, the Prince's stakes, 100 guineas, six subscribers; and the Derby stakes of 50 guineas each, half forfeit, when eleven started; the rest paid. Hornpipe won five times at Newmarket, Epsom, Brighton, and Lewes. Paynator won 50l. 100 guineas, the first class and main of the Oatlands Stakes at Newmarket. Repeator, seven plates, matches, and stakes, at Newmarket, Ipswich, Brighton, and Lewes. Spinetta won 200 guineas, and 50 guineas, at Newmarket. Spoliator won the King's Plate at Ipswich; 50l., 200 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket. True Blue, 80 guineas at Epsom, and 50l. at Ludlow. Trumpeter, three fifties, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket.

In 1797, ten of his get started, and were winners of sixteen prizes. In 1798, fifteen appeared, and were the winners of twenty-nine. In 1799, eighteen of his get started, and were winners of thirty three; amongst whom Chippenham, then three years old, won 400 guineas, and 300 guineas, at Newmarket. Sorcerer, three years old, 100 guineas at Newmarket. Spoliator won six stakes and matches, all at Newmarket! and Trumpeter won three at Newmarket, and one at Lewes. In 1800, nine started, who were the winners of twenty-five. Sorcerer, then four years old, won 100 guineas, 150 guineas, 50l., 200 guineas, and the October Oatlands, at Newmarket, and the King's Plate at Ipswich. Thais, only two years old, won 400 guineas at Brighton, 60 guineas at Egham, and 100 guineas at Newmarket; and Tuneful, only three years old, won twice at Newmarket, and twice at Canterbury. In 1801 he seemed to have attained the zenith of celebrity; thirteen of his produce were the winners of forty-three plates, matches, and sweepstakes. Sorcerer won six at Newmarket, 50l. at Oxford, the King's Plate at Burford, and 70 guineas at Lewes. Chippenham won six at Newmarket, and 50l. at Shrewsbury. Penelope only three years old, won five at Newmarket, and the King's Plate at Ipswich. Rebel won 90 guineas at Bibury, two fifties at the same place, and the Petworth Stakes at Brighton. In 1802, twelve were the winners of forty-one prizes of different descriptions, of which Edgar won nine; Orange Flower, eight; Chippenham, five; Rebel, four; Pacificator, three; and the remainder two each; under which repetition of success, through so great a variety of channels, the blood of his progeny bids fair to stand in no unfavourable degree of estimation.

It can require no trumpet of fame to establish a fact so universally known, that the TURF, with the nocturnal amusement of hazard, (which invariably follows it,) have, in conjunction, destroyed (or rather alienated) more PROPERTY, in the last fifty years, than all the hurricanes within the same given time, from one extremity of the kingdom to the other. Numbers there are at this moment in existence, who formerly possessed their numerous studs, their landed estates, their magnificent mansions, with all the comforts, all the elegant gratifications of life, some of whom are to be found in prisons; others pining in obscurity, severely wounded, even in spirit, by the barbed arrow of adversity; and a third part (by far the most numerous) living upon the liberality and hospitality of their kind and commiserating friends. But that so deep and desponding a shade may not cast too great a gloom over the picture for want of contrast, let the eye turn to an imaginary view of those likewise living, who, during the last thirty years of the fifty already alluded to, have risen from the very lowest classes of society, to a degree of opulence beyond every moderate conception; when a few moments of retrospection may serve to convince the ruminative observer, that, however largely the ARTS and SCIENCES may be admitted to have improved, they bear no proportion to the pecuniary improvements of the arts either upon the turf or at the gaming table. No man of unsullied honour, and strict integrity, can become successful, for any length of time, amidst a horde of determined depredators; experience having fully proved, that the most princely fortune cannot sustain itself against the stratagems of such villainous combinations.

The TURF, in respect to its pleasures, pursued with prudence, and entered into with moderation, by those whose immense property will admit of its support, is certainly one of the most noble, exhilarating, and amusing gratifications in the long catalogue of human enjoyments; but, unfortunately, there is the same insatiate infection in ambition as in wealth, and neither one, more than the other, are ever to be satisfied. From this inordinate thirst of fame, this furor of fashion, this excess of inconsideracy, has recently arisen RACING STUDS of such rapacious enormity, that they have reduced to a degraded state of necessity, many of the most opulent and most dignified individuals in his Majesty's dominions; to whom it must prove, upon the downy pillow of repentant reflection, a most mortifying retrospection, that, notwithstanding the thousands upon thousands ingulphed within the vortex of the TURF, there has been hardly an instance in which they have been enabled to become the guardians of their own honour, the protectors of their own property, or barely thought worthy of being entrusted with the secrets of their own stables; for the subordinates in a training establishment have their cards to play as well as their superiors; and having skill enough, in the language of Tony Lumpkin in the comedy, "to manage their own affairs by the rule of thumb," they do not omit to recollect the ancient axiom, that self-preservation is the first or most predominant law in nature.

The noblemen and gentlemen of the Jockey Club at Newmarket, have adopted every means, that superior wisdom could possibly devise, to restrain villainy, and reward integrity: but so long as human depravity shall have power to retain a seat within the heart; so long as the secret betting emoluments of the subordinates may be more increased by deceptively opposing, than by promoting the interest of their EMPLOYERS; so long as a pail of water, a nauseating ball, or half a peck of corn, can be privately administered in the night, or a horse rode on the wrong side of the post by day; no man existing (however dignified his station, however benevolent his heart, however expanded his mind, and liberal his hand) must expect to see the TURF rise from its late public and well-known degradation, to a state of the so-much-wished-for perfection.

V.

The official department of a Verderer bears great similitude to that of a coroner, and in this particular respect; that as a coroner, upon the notice of a sudden or accidental death, (if attended with circumstances to render the inquisition necessary,) is to take a personal view of the body, and to make inquiry, upon the joint oaths of twelve men, how and by what means the person came by his or her death, and who and what was the occasion thereof; so it is the official duty of the Verderer to look after and view the beasts of the forest; for any of those being found hurt, wounded, or slain, upon notice given to the Verderer, he is to take a view of the same, and to cause a jury of twelve men to be summoned from the surrounding district, that an inquisition may be made to discover (if possible) how and by whom the said beast was hurt, wounded, or killed. The office of the Verderer at the Court of Attachments, is to sit there to see, hear and examine the attachments of the forest, both in vert and in venison, and to receive the same of the subordinate officers, or those who may attend to present them there, and then to enter them into their own rolls. See Forest Laws.