tion to the former.

Every horse has his distance: thus some evince superiority in short contests of only half a mile, while others excel in mile races, some at the end of two miles, and some can extend their powers of endurance to the end of three miles; but as it has been just remarked, it is frequent running combined with a long continuance on the turf, which determines the soundness and stamina of the race-horse. With respect to weights, the existing fashion of light weights is more the effect of caprice than any well-founded principle. But it does not extend a prejudicial influence so expansively as may be supposed. With some exceptions, the horse that can win with nine stones on his back, can win with twelve, providing all the other horses carry proportionate exactions. The exceptions to this rule are the weedy brutes which scarcely ever win; and it would be a boon to their owners if some means could be devised of excluding such animals from the course; however, that cannot be done, and it is one of those evils which will frequently intrude, to impede the attainment of perfection. Owners of horses and trainers shew much anxiety to engage their horses in races where the weights are light, under the impression that there is less probability of their straining themselves or breaking down. This is rather a fallacious opinion, especially when the weights are so very light, that the horses must be ridden by boys-I may term them children-under whose guidance they are more likely to sustain injury, from the incompetence and want of power of their pigmy riders.

As in olden times horses were not engaged in racing till they were four or five years old, it is a frequently received conjecture that the present practice of running them at two-years old abbreviates the period of their performances. The racing calendar will dispel this error; but to save my readers the trouble of research, I will lay before them the performances of several horses celebrated in the early annals of racing, and compare them with others of more recent date. The gentleman who has written on the Deterioration of our Saddle-horses, introduces The Carlisle Gelding and Black Chance, as examples of superiority in the horses of the early part of the eighteenth century; but has forgotten to compare their performances with those of horses of modern times. In his detail of the running of the last-named horse, he has omitted some of his races, and adopted incongruities; but as the object of these remarks is not criticism, but an earnest desire to arrive at just conclusions, I shall give a correct abstract of each horse's performances, adding those of Arthur O'Bradley, Babraham, and Cinderwench, they appearing as the stoutest and most frequent runners of their respective periods. The Carlisle Gelding was foaled in 1713. He won twice in 1719; the following year he did not start, neither did he run in the years 1725 or 26: in all, he won twenty-two races, was beaten eleven times: he received two forfeits, paid one, and walked over twice. His last engagement was in 1731, the only race of that year, when he was beaten; and although thirteen years elapsed from the commencement to the conclusion of his career, he was only ten seasons actually on the turf. The total distance of his running, as nearly as can be computed, was 228 miles. Black Chance, foaled in 1732, commenced running when five-years old, in which year he won two races: he concluded his career in 1746, but did not run in 1743, and only once either in the preceding and two succeeding years, and only twice the last year of his running. Thus his term can only

be recognized at nine years, and three of these were very unimportant: he ran over about 200 miles of ground. Cinderwench, whose age is unknown, won thirteen races, and was beaten in nine: she continued on the turf five seasons, and ran over 192 miles: her first race took place in the year 1731. Balraham, a son of the Godolphin Arabian, made his appearance for a match at Newmarket in 1746, being then six years old; he won four races, and was beaten six times; and the distance which he ran over only amounted to 74 miles; he only ran four seasons. Arthur O'Bradley, foaled in 1738, came on the turf at five years old, won fifteen, and lost ten races, for which he ran over 140 miles, and was only four years in training. These are selections of the stoutest runners of their day. We will now compare those of more recent times. Euphrates, foaled in 1816, commenced running when three years old, won forty-two races, was beaten on fifty-seven occasions, and continued running ten seasons, during which he went over 308 miles. Liston. foaled in 1821, ran at three years old, and was kept in training eleven consecutive seasons, winning forty-six, and losing thirty-five races, to accomplish which he ran 232 miles. Independence began at two years old, was ten years in force, won forty, and was defeated in forty-four engagements, and ran a total distance of 185 miles, concluding his performances in 1835. Catherina, foaled in 1830, made her debut in 1832, and won the unprecedented number of seventy-nine races, and was beaten on ninety-eight occasions; the distance of ground she ran over amounted to 583 miles, and she continued running ten seasons. The game and honest Venison is worthy of notice; for although he only ran three years, he began at two years old, and at three won twelve races, besides travelling 900 miles on foot-before railways or vans were in fashion-to meet his engagements. In the stud he had few equals. Without going further into details, it may be observed that Beeswing commenced when only two years old, and continued to run till she was seven, in which year she won ten races, and in the preceding one eleven. Indeed, a long list of horses might be enumerated, which commenced their performances at the early age of two years, and do not appear to have suffered from the precocious probation. To enumerate them all would be irksome; but I may mention Halston, Boy Blue, Ballad Singer, Bessy Bedlam, Oppidan, The Colonel, Vanish, and others, which have honourably distinguished themselves on the turf and in the stud; not, however, omitting old Isaac, who, on the fiat, over hurdles, and steeplechasing combined, ran some sixteen or seventeen years in succession. These examples are sufficient to corroborate most incontestably, that running at an early age does not impair the constitution, and consequently cannot be deemed as conducive to deterioration.

Moreover, it has been asserted that the horses of the present day are bred incestuously, and that they have degenerated in consequence. The pedigrees of celebrated horses winners of the Derby, Oaks, St. Leger, and other important races, so frequently appear in these pages, that it is unnecessary to repeat them for the purpose of confuting that assertion; and those who require more extensive evidence can refer to the Stud Book, where they will find that great care has of late years been devoted, to avoid the effects of consanguinity. Unfortunately for those who have adopted the argument, many horses, in the early ages of breeding for the turf, were produced by the union of blood very closely related. Rachel, the mother of

the celebrated Highflyer, was by Blank, dam by Regulus, both of which horses were sons of the Godolphin Arabian. Fox, a good runner of his day, and the progenitor of several distinguished horses, had for his dam and grandam mares which were the offspring of one sire, namely, the Leedes Arabian. Flying Childers, said to be the speediest horse ever trained, was by Darley's Arabian, dam Betty Leedes, by Careless, grandam sister to Leedes, by Leedes Arabian, great grandam by Spanker and a Barb mare, which mare was Spanker's dam; consequently the great grandam of Childers was the issue of mother and son. This horse only won two matches, the first in 1721, the second in the following year he also received forfeit in three matches; so that there is nothing remarkable in his running, or any evidence to establish the characteristic of constitutional stamina. It is related that he gave Fox 12lb. over the course, and beat him a quarter of a mile in a trial; but we often hear of wonderful performances in trials, which are not repeated in public. Goldfinder, foaled in 1764, was a son of Snap, his dam by Blank, grandam by Regulus, the consanguinity of whom has been already

noticed.

The opinion that the existing customs of racing are conducive to the production of weedy stock, must not be taken in an abstract sense. Handicaps certainly afford opportunities of winning with inferior animals, and thus there is encouragement to breed a greater number; and from those numbers a greater portion of superior animals are produced than there could be if the numbers were limited. The increase of horses bred for racing purposes is greatly augmented within the present century, although with respect to those of inferior blood, suitable for hunting and general services, if they have not decreased, the supply is unequal to the demand. We have therefore an ample sufficiency of the parent stock, and it only remains to make use of them judiciously in order to meet the requirements of the country. A careful research through the Stud Book furnishes a list of only 265 foals in the year 1800, 612 in 1825, and in 1853 941 were entered in Messrs. Weatherby's books, as the produce of that year, out of which there will be doubtless many of superior character. Every breeder is anxious to rear the best horse in his power, and for that purpose selects the blood which, in his judgment, he conceives most likely to accomplish that end. The combinations of speed, endurance, and soundness, are as necessary to constitute an animal of value as they ever were, and are as much sought for.

With the best intentions, no doubt, and anxious to suggest any course by which an improvement might be effected, the Arab blood has been recommended for racing it is known to be utterly worthless. For riding horses it may be admissible; but the principal defects of those animals may be recognized in their shoulders, and deficiency of bone below the knee. Their showy action is generally a recommendation; although, in several which I have ridden, it is wanting in that delightful smoothness which is met with in some of our best thorough-bred horses. Another suggestion has recently been announced, which coming from high authority cannot be received without startling emotions. In a report of the proceedings of the Royal Agricultural Society, we find the following notice: "IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE BREEDING. Mr. Spooner, of Southampton, recommended the council to take measures with the Government, as well

as with the local societies of the country, for improving the breed of horses for cavalry and artillery purposes, with a view of obtaining animals possessing a combination of activity and strength in the highest degree. He thought that object would be obtained by encouraging the breeding of good saddle-horses from the best brood mares capable of carrying 16 stones, by the best stallions, well but not thorough bred, capable of carrying a similar weight. He thought that such mares abounded throughout the country, although they were at present employed for draught and other laborious purposes; he considered that the class of male horses to be used was the one now too frequently castrated, namely, a three-part bred hunter, capable of carrying a heavy weight up to the fleetest hounds; such an animal readily commands some £200 or £300 when his excellences are known, and which may in fact be regarded as the most noble and valuable of the horse tribe. Mr. Spooner had little doubt that the system would in a few years result in the regeneration of the English breed of saddle horses." With due deference to Mr. Spooner's excellent intentions, such a horse as the one he describes is not in existence. A three parts bred horse cannot live with hounds, when they are running hard, two miles, or even one. On a cold bad scenting day, with a very slow pace, during a tedious run, such an animal may manage to get to the end; but he will be woefully sick ere he reaches his stable, and not fit to reappear at the covert side in less than ten days or a fortnight; whereas, to a thorough-bred horse, or one nearly allied to that class, it would be merely exercise: he would return home cheerfully, feed, and in five days be ready to resume the same duty. Those events are the tests of endurance and constitutional stamina. I have ridden a few mongrel bred horses, and, fond as I am of hunting, beg to decline repetitions of such disagreeable engagements. Unfortunately for themselves and the purchasers of horses, farmers are too much inclined to breed from coarse under-bred stallions. The low price at which the services of such animals are obtained is one inducement; and again, many in that class of persons, do not discriminate between coarse lumber and physical power, the 'result of activity and symmetrical proportions. This is the cause which supplies our horse fairs with so many illshaped worthless brutes. Let any gentleman, who is sceptical on this point, attend a fair, select the worst animals, and ascertain how they were bred, and he will find that eight out of ten were the issues of stallions not thorough-bred. The class of mares which Mr. Spooner recommends are undoubtedly thoroughly adapted for the purpose; but they certainly do not abound throughout the country; on the contrary, I know from experience they are scarce. If it is desired to improve the breed of horses, we must select sires and dams free from hereditary complaints, and possessing action, symmetry, constitution, and temper; and to woo the smiles of fortune, thorough-bred sires must be selected. Offer a horse, three parts bred as Mr. Spooner recommends, however goodlooking he may be, to any experienced sportsman, who hunts in any of the fast shires, and tell him how he was descended, I would venture to assert that no sale would be effected. The sportsman might say, "Take him out with the hounds; and if he can go in a twenty minutes' burst, I will try to buy him." The experiment would be certain condemnation. The high-prized Leicestershire hunter, capable of carrying fifteen or sixteen stone, is thorough-bred or very nearly so-if there be a taint, it is on the

side of the dam. This principle in breeding was incontestably proved when cocktail races were in vogue. With respect to horses for the purpose of mounting our troops, I would inquire if any cavalry officer would reject a thorough-bred horse fifteen hands three inches high, on short legs, capable of carrying fourteen stone with hounds, and with good action? No, he would be too happy to secure him—what would be the impediment? the value of the animal. Encourage the breeding of such animals, when the increased numbers will reduce the price; not that such horses would ever come to the regulation prices of troopers ; but being more plentiful for higher occupations, those which are now used for those purposes would find their way into the cavalry regiments. If Government desire to induce farmers to breed horses for military service, it may readily be done by increasing the regulation price to such a standard that it will remunerate the breeder. If the Exchequer were drained in premiums, it would not have the desired effect. Prizes would

no doubt stimulate breeders to produce horses of any required class; but however suitable those horses might be, they would not find their way to the regiments, so long as a better sale could be effected in other quarters.

These meditations, which have calmly sympathized with the placid stream, although occasionally interrupted by the struggles of a captured trout, being brought to a conclusion, I wind up my line and ramble to another scene.

(To be continued.)

THE RACING

RACING SEASON.-AUGUST.

BY CRAVEN.

"Si te forte meæ gravis uret sarcina chartæ
Abjicito....."

HORAT. Lib. i, Epist. 13.

The last course for July having been served at Goodwood like a plat of "saur krout," we will review the entertainment as wound up at Tattersall's on the 31st of that month. Although a very large amount of money changed hands on the Goodwood account, the settling was manifestly slow; many balances stand over, but a belief exists that the greater portion of them will be liquidated at Brighton, Hope s gleanings will make a sorry harvest-home. "Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind." What better could have been expected? Contemporary with the Goodwood suspension of payment, the press gave circulation to a paragraph headed, "The Racing Sweeps in the Provinces." Notwithstanding the very stringent measure introduced by Lord Palmerston into the House of Commons for the suppression of betting-houses and sweeps, and which measure was