Sporting notions of present days and past

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RACING REMARKS 69
filthy lucre, vile dross, out of the question,
-
a
small pinch of salad for the Victor Ludorum,
holder of the Millennium Championship, nothing
costing nobody anything, and exes. simply
blowed if such a relic of barbarism might be
remembered and mentioned. Cost must be of no
consequence under those ideal happy conditions.
All concerned will race for love of the enterprise.
While principals, such as owners, breeders,
trainers, jockeys, and officials, put sport first and
all other considerations nowhere, need to call upon
spectators to help keep the mill going by
bringing gate-money grist to it cannot exist,
since all is free, gratis, and for nothing, except,
perhaps, the cost of the testimonial salad wreaths
and crowns.
Such a condition of affairs, only too desirable
and lovely, is, I fear, yet a long, long way off,
although we do hear optimistic theorists babbling
of green courses, scenes of the highest possible
class horse-racing, with, at any rate, no betting
in it. Unfortunately, we poor mortals have to
take things as they are, instead of as such politic
artists depict them—which is to say, as they
ought to be. " Exes." we have always with us.
The spectators' fees make up - to - date racing
possible. Chief contributors towards the neces-
sary revenue come from the higher-priced rings.
Analysing the classes most regular subscribers to
the high poll tax enforced all over the country,
we find, first, the professionals who in one pay-
ment cover the cost of a stall in the betting
market and privilege to see what goes on, and
next the well-to-do trading classes, men who
make good money in their businesses, are keen
on sport and speculation, and by force of habit—