COMMUNICATIONS. • 511 



eight -winners, in 1817. Defence, by Whalebone, sire of eleven 

 winners in 1824. Chateaux Margeau, bj the same horse, sire of 

 five winners. 



A southern gentleman who visited England for the purpose 

 of purchasing blood stock in 1837, thus writes to J. S. Skinner 

 editor of the American Turf Kegister : 



" The pride and boast of Stockwell (the town where he is 

 owned) is Camel, the sire of Touchstone and Caravan, now con- 

 sidered two of the finest horses in England. No price which a 

 man in his senses would give could buy this horse. His blood 

 is first rate, by "Whalebone, dam by Selim." 



Langar a son of this Selim was sire of the winner of 44 prizes. 

 Sir Hercules, son of Whalebone, was sire of the winner of 1 9 

 prizes. Stumps, son of, Whalebone, 10 prizes. By reference to 

 the " Turf Eegister" I find scarcely an ancester of " King of 

 Cymry" which has not been a winner among the very best 

 horses of the year in England. The St, Ledger stakes, the 

 Derby and the Oaks, being the most prominent among the many 

 racing events, which being before the public, the very best 

 horses of the year, i will mention some of the amounts which 

 are pocketed by the winners of one of these. For instance the 

 St. Ledger for 1845 gave the winner $25,250. The Derby for 

 1841 gave the winner $37,500. The Oaks for 1841 $28,500. 

 These races are made by subscription. For instance from 100 

 to 150 owners of young horses agree to run them for a purse to 

 which each subscribe 100 guineas. ^ Of the 150 perhaps 30 will 

 start, sometimes not so many. Of course all that breeding, care, 

 skill, and attention, can do, all that strength and speed is capa- 

 ble of, is then brought into requisition, and nothing but a first 

 rate animal can take the purse. 



If any additional proof was wanting to establish the fact 

 that thorough hred animals transmit to their progeny their qual- 

 ities, and also in a great measure those of their ancestors, it 

 can easily be seen by any observing man, in the cross of the 

 Durham or Devon upon our native, or rather monyrel stocky 

 there being no native American stock of cattle or horses, al- 

 though there is of men, the once lords of the forest. The half 



