36 THE HORSE 



incomparably higher than any other, based on the individual 

 opinion of one or more judges, is the absolute and blind 

 justice, personified in the inflexible winning-post, which 

 alone decides on the race-course ; and the irrefutable 

 certainty that neither fashion nor fancy, neither favour 

 nor hatred, neither personal prejudice nor time-serving — 

 frequently observable in the awards at horse-shows — 

 have biased the decision of hotly contested struggles as 

 recorded in the Eacing Calendar for the space of 170 years. 

 This it is that gives the English thoroughbred horse a value 

 for breeding purposes unequalled and looked for in vain in 

 any other species of animal creation. 



" In the production of our half-breds it has become 

 an absolute necessity to use thoroughbred stallions not only 

 with performances of a high order, but also that our cavalry 

 horses may answer certain conditions and forms about 

 make and shape laid down in order to prevent their 

 deterioration." 



Fanatics who would put an end to racing, looking only 

 from the one-sided view that an opportunity for gambling is 

 thereby supplied, and quite ignoring the fact, only too 

 notorious, that in these days the chief wagering which takes 

 place amongst the middle and lower classes is upon football 

 matches, and even cricket matches, would inflict such a 

 crushing blow on all the different breeds of light horses as 

 they can be little aware of, and which, if long continued, 

 would reduce horses again to almost " prairie " value. 



If further witness is required as to the great value of 

 thoroughbred blood in improving other breeds, the very 

 thoughtful chapter should be studied on the " Value of the 

 Thoroughbred for other Breeds," by Baron Burchard von 

 Oettingen, in his invaluable work, " Horse Breeding in 

 Theory and Practice," the fruit of his many years of 

 observation whilst holding the post of Landstallmeister and 

 Director of the Eoyal Stud at Trakehnen. On p. 50 he 

 remarks : " All half-bred horses of the old and new world, 

 even the Trotters, have by mingling with the Thoroughbred, 

 produced the required steel in their breeds, which otherwise 

 could not have been produced as well and as quickly. Even 



