in racing, would be an evidence of the most perfect ignorance of the subject. Whatever engagements men enter into, there will be some persons who will endeavor to acquire greater than ordinary gains, if those engagements present opportunities; but it does not follow that all men, occupied by the same pursuit, are to practise dishonest means. The merchant is perfectly justified in making the most of his mer. chandise, so long as he is honest in his dealings; so also is the owner of a race-horse equally entitled to profit by his horse's exertions, in order to repay the charges of breeding and training, so long as he abstains from dishonorable transactions.

In spite of all the efforts which have been opposed to racing, it is evidently increasing: many more Stakes are advertised to be run for than formerly, and greater numbers of horses are in training.

The most noted place for training available to persons in the Midland Counties is at Hednesford, a scattered village in Staffordshire, situated between the market-town of Rugeley and the ancient village of Cannock, which latter place derives its name from an extensive waste or chase, said to comprehend about 25,000 acres, a portion of the southern boundary of which is used for exercise-ground. It was a celebrated forest in the time of the Mercians, and is recorded as a favorite chase of their Monarchs. In those days stately oaks flourished in profusion; but several centuries have passed away since the devastating axe converted the once noble forest into a bleak and dreary waste. The turf is preserved with care, affording in the spring of the year a fine spongy surface. Here the delicate limbs of the race-horse extend their beautiful proportions

" Where trees unnumber'd in past ages grew,

The green retreat of wood-nymphs-once the boast,
The pride, the guardians of their native coast.
Alas! how changed! each venerable oak
Long since has yielded to the woodman's stroke!
Where'er the cheerless prospect meets the eye,
No shrub, no plant, except the heath, is nigh.”

Here arises a comparison beneath the oak-tree and the race-horse: the oak furnishes us with a navy to protect our shores, whilst the racehorse supplies our cavalry with a noble breed to maintain our rights upon our native land.

Nearly in the centre of England, Hednesford possesses the advantage of being within reach of many racing meetings of the first importance. The Liverpool and Birmingham Railway passes within eight or nine miles, consequently all places on the line of that or the London and Birmingham, are easy of access. Thus Liverpool (the formidable rival to Doncaster), Manchester, and Newton are hence supplied by horses without more than two hours' walking on the road.

Chester also is within a moderate distance, and here the Hednesford horses generally muster in great force, and usually with more than an average share of success; and this year they had their full meed, as will be seen by the Calendar.

Wolverhampton is only twelve miles distant. The races at this very populous town have acquired a degree of importance beyond most country meetings. One great recommendation is an excellent course,

which, although attended by immense crowds of people, is always well kept. However, the principal attraction is the liberal addition which is made to the Stakes, amounting altogether to three hundred pounds. independently of the subscription. There are two capital Handicaps, and a St. Leger Stake for three-year-olds, a Trial Stake, two Plates, and six or seven other races. They are conducted with the greatest regularity, and the moment a Stake is won the money is forthcoming, if required, which cannot be said at every place.

Lichfield, Newcastle, the Pottery, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, and Shrewsbury afford opportunities of picking up numerous little fifties.

Until the present occasion, it is some years since I have visited this place, during which period many changes have occurred. In former days Mr. Mytton had a long string of horses-he and several of his cotemporaries are gathered to their fathers. Mr. Giffard was then a zealous and successful supporter of the Turf; but now he has declined it altogether, greatly to the regret of all who are connected with racing.

Such unforeseen events daily occur, that the best judges and the shrewdest calculators are very frequently disappointed in their expectations. It is natural to entertain a suspicion concerning any matter of fact when the evidence of individuals is opposed to each other. When the characters of those individuals are doubtful; when they have an interest in their assertions, it is still more reasonable that their testimony should be questioned when matter of opinion becomes the subject of consideration: if equally dependant upon the character and interests of the representative, it is still more open to scepticism. When a field of young horses are for the first time opposed to each other, their relative powers must of necessity be unknown. Various interests may prompt individuals to express their opinions as to the merits of such as they may be supposed to have some information upon. A prudent man will hesitate whether their declarations are to be relied upon-in the first place, as to whether they really have the means of acquiring the information which they represent; and in the second, whether there can be any motive for deception.

The chief purpose of my visit to Hednesford was to learn what horses are in training; and, as far as might be judged by their action and appearance, to form some little idea of what their pretensions may be-only a superficial source of information at best: nevertheless, as far as my observations allowed me to investigate, I will endeavor to detail them.

Mr. Edmund Peel has a private establishment here, which, with the exception of one on a small scale very recently entered upon by Mr. Moss, is the only one that is not conducted by public trainers. Mr. Peel's house and premises are very commodious, situated on the left hand of the road leading to Rugeley. The house is sufficiently capacious to accommodate himself and family as an occasional residence but his string of horses is not so large as formerly-an event to be lamented. The name of Peel is a guarantee for everything that is honorable and correct: if there were two or three such men in every county throughout England, the Turf would be supported with a lustre that would never be tarnished.

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Lord trains for Mr. Peel. The following short list of horses compose his string, but they won more than an average number of Stakes last year:

Gadfly, 4 yrs.
Saul, 4 yrs.

Billy, 3 yrs.
Alzdorf, 3 yrs.

Drayton, 2 yrs.
Negus, 2 yrs.

Mr. Moss occupies the stables formerly tenanted by Walters: having been disappointed in some private training-ground nearer to his residence, he has adopted the alternative of sending his horses here. The following comprise his lot :

Maid Marian, 5 yrs.
Frailty, 4 yrs.

Ascanius, 4 yrs.

Colt by Belzoni, 4 yrs.
Hannibal, 4 yrs.
Alien, 3 yrs.

Miss Foote, Sister to Miss Charlotte, 3 yrs.

Colt by Stumps, half-bred.

Mr. Carr's is the oldest establishment at the place, and I found him "pursuing the even tenor of his way" with that degree of quiet respectability which is certain to ensure patronage, and his stables are well filled. He has the care of Lord Howth's horses when they are in England, and he has acquired a new Master in the Marquis of Waterford. It is to be hoped the Marquis's taste for racing will increase. Mr. Buckley's horses are also in Mr. Carr's stables. subjoined is a list of all under his surveillance :

The

Sister to Gilbert Gurney, 3 yrs.

Filly by Emancipation out of Colt by Brutandorf out of Re-
Miniature, 4 yrs.

Compensation, 4 yrs.

Jock, 4 yrs.

Charley, 3 yrs.

gatta, 3 yrs.

Filly by Pickpocket out of Com

pensation's dam, 3 yrs. Dunston, 2 yrs.

Colt by Emancipation, dam by Little Clown, half-bred.

Sir Oliver, 3 yrs.

Colt by Pickpocket, half-bred.

Several attempts have been made by the Hednesford trainers to win Derbys and St. Legers, but none of them have succeeded except Mr. Flintoff, who trained Birmingham when he won the St. Leger. Without making comparisons of the abilities of one man over those of another, I must give him the credit which he justly merits for skill and good management. One thing speaks highly for his discernment; for the last fifteen years he has not had a single horse break down in running, and when it is observed that during that time he has always had a number of horses under his care, this is saying a great deal. He has got old Independence as a pensioner: the poor old horse is fortunate in having a good master, who only uses him to ride about home.-Mr. Fowler's horses are trained by Mr. Flintoff: they are a formidable team. This gentleman has become quite a leading man at the races in the neighbourhood. Several of his horses have been purchased from Mr. Nowell's stud: he has, however, a small but select stud of mares at his own residence. I noticed the following horses at exercise :

Lallah Rookh, 2 yrs.
Colt by Saracen out
of Minikin, 2 yrs. Fowler's.
Goshawk, 5 yrs.
Bilboa, 4 yrs.
The Friar, 4 yrs.

Mr. Alderman Copeland has the greatest

Elegance, 3 yrs.

Plover, by Muley out of Young

Mignionette, 2 yrs.

Colt by Muley out of Dulcamara, 2 yrs.

Filly by Colwick, 2 yrs.

number of horses on the

hills of any one person: they are under the care of Mr. Walters, who

resides in the house formerly occupied by Mr. Arthur. They are comprised in the following list:

Mr. Sanders resides in the house formerly occupied by the late Mr. Richard Spencer, who was in his time one of the best country jockeys we had. Captain Lamb, Mr. Painter, and Mr. Phillips are the owners of most of the following horses :—

These three horses are likewise at Mr. Sanders's, under the care of Atkinson, Mr. Meiklam's private trainer :

Modesty, 5 yrs.

I Wee Willie, 4 yrs,

The Drone, 4 yrs.

Mr Arthur having let his house to Alderman Copeland's trainer, he has taken another at the village of Cannock, where he intends to resume the occupation which he has for the last few years declined. He has at present only two horses in his stables-The Pedlar and The Poet. He was a successful trainer, and gave satisfaction to his employers, and will doubtless, when his intentions are known, have his share of horses.

Considering the number of horses that are in work, there does not appear to be anything very formidable. None of them have engagements in the great races in the South except The Deputy, who is in two Stakes at Ascot, but it is more than doubtful about his running for either of them.

These hills are well adapted for spring work: the subsoil is gravel, with a good turf on the surface; consequently they are never deep, but in dry weather they become very hard. Within the last ten years certain rules have been drawn up and agreed to by every person using the exercise-ground for the purpose of keeping it in good order: each trainer takes it by turns for a year to superintend the rolling and such repairs as may be deemed requisite; a subscription is paid by the owner of each horse trained here, which subscription forms a fund for the payment of the necessary expenditure. A more frequent application of the roller would be beneficial: it would improve the surface, without making the bottom more solid than it now is.

One of the principal recommendations of this place to train on is the great variety of gallops. To enumerate them all, or to attempt to describe them separately, would be superfluous. The "sweat" is something in form of a horse-shoe, having a turn at each end: it is two miles and a quarter over; consequently horses usually go the distance twice. It is what is termed give-and-take; that is, there is hilly ground to ascend and descend alternately.

There are several very strong gallops to be found, all of them having more or less hill.

It was formerly the custom to water the horses whilst out at exercise at a large pool by the side of the road leading to Rugeley: this practice is now generally discontinued, and, I am inclined to observe, very judiciously. In the first place, if a horse have his water from the pool in the morning, and in the stable from a pump in the evening, he has two sorts of water in the day, which may not agree with each other in the next place, after the circulation of the blood has been increased by exercise, I cannot sanction a volume of cold water being taken into the stomach till the horse has had plenty of time to become cool. The water from the pumps is in general soft and good.

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There are at present only three jockeys residing at HednesfordGeorge Whitehouse, Marlow, and Dodgson. Mr. Edmund Peel was Whitehouse's first master: he can ride very light. George Calloway, however, lives at Lichfield, and William Lear at Brewood, both which places are within an hour's ride.

Many of the horses which are now in training on these hills are from Mr. Nowell's stud. That gentleman breeds for sale only, and offers his yearlings annually at Doncaster: this enables those who do not breed to make a selection.

Mr. Edmund Peel has a stud of mares, and breeds most of the horses which he trains. I hope to have an opportunity of inspecting them in the course of the summer, which, with some other studs in the neighbourhood, will form a subject for future observation. He has an old acquaintance of mine, who ought to rank high as a stallion: he is as well bred as any horse in the world, is of great size, was a good runner, and his symmetry is excellent-I allude to Doctor Faustus. He has been in Wales almost ever since he was used as a stallion, and has not had many good mares: now that he will have a chance, I shall expect to hear of his getting race-horses.

A stud farm was established a few years ago near Birmingham, by Mr. Stovin, whose intention it was to breed for sale only. Unfortunate events, entirely unconnected with the undertaking, have terminated his control over it. The yearlings are already sold, and the mares and foals will be subjected to public competition in the course of the summer. So much good judgment was evinced in the selection of the mares, and the management was so good in every department, that it is a great misfortune to have such a stud broken up. I purpose having a treat once more before they are totally dispersed, and shall then be able to offer a more minute description of them.

At Stafford there is an old-established stud belonging to Mr. Painter he has some very superior mares. : Eleanor, by Muley, produced him a colt last year by Sir Hercules, which is not to be surpassed he possesses great bone, with all the requisite appearances of a race-horse. There is also a very fine filly by Muley Moloch out of Tintoretta. The stallion which he has this year is The Tulip, a very lengthy racing-like sort of horse, and as well-bred as any horse in the Stud Book. His trials are asserted to have been wonderful.

Although Mr. Fowler has many horses at Mr. Flintoff's, his breeding stud is on a small scale. His mares are, Billingsgate, mare by Filho, and Coquette. He has a promising colt, own Brother to his horse Heron, two-years-old, just broke; and a colt of the same age, by