84 THE HORSE. 
out of twenty, or perhaps out cf a hundred; but he will possibly leave the 
very best out of his list. The theoretical rule is simple enough, but it 
requires great experience, and a good eye to carry it out in practice. It is 
simply this, that, ceteris paribus, the horse which is formed in the mould 
most like that of the greatest number of good race-horses, will run the best. 
Thus, supposing it is found that out of fifty good horses forty-nine have 
neat heads, light necks, deep chests, oblique shoulders, long racing hind- 
quarters, strong hocks, &c. the presumption will be that a horse resembling 
those forty-nine in shape, will also resemble them in speed and endurance. 
On the other hand, it is admitted on the turf, that high-breeding is of 
more consequence than external shape, and that of two horses, one perfect 
in shape, but of an inferior strain of blood, and the other of the most win- 
ning blood, but not so well formed in shape, the latter will be the most 
likely to perform to the satisfaction of his owner on the race-course. On 
this principle the proverb has been framed and handed down to us, that 
“an ounce of blood is worth a pound of bone,” and with the above ex- 
planation such is really the case. But in spite of all this recognised 
superiority of blood, it is indisputable that for the highest degree of suc 
cess there must be not only high purity of blood, and that of the most 
winning strains, but there must also be a frame of the most useful character, 
if not always of the most elegant form. Many of our very best horses have 
been plain, and even coarse-looking—as, for instance, most of the Melbournes, 
and especially that very fast horse, Sir Tatton S¥kes ; but in spite of their 
plainness, ail their points are good and useful, and the deficiency is in ele- 
gance, not in real utility. On the other hand, there are some strains 
which unite elegance with utility, such as the fast and stout Venisons, 
which are remarkable for their beautiful frames and neat Arabian heads. 
But there must always be a distinction made between what is really useful 
and what is only agreeable to the eye. There are some characteristics 
which, over and above their mechanical advantages, indicate high-breed- 
ing, and as such are regarded with especial favour by purchasers. For 
these a term has of late years been invented, the meaning of which is well 
understood, but somewhat difficult to define. Thus, we hear it often re- 
marked, that a particular horse is deficient in “ quality,” or that he has it 
in perfection; and in proportion to the one or the other of these conditions 
is he meant to be praised or condemned. It is not simply a word synony- 
mous with “breeding,” for a horse may show high breeding, and yet be 
deficient in “ quality,” but if with a look which convinces you that he has 
a pure pedigree, he conjoins a perfect symmetry in all his parts, and in the 
shapes displayed by the thoroughbred, he then comes up to the description 
which stamps a horse in these days with the highest seal of approbation, 
for “he has plenty of quality.” 
But what is the recognised form of the race-horse? I must here ex- 
plain to the tyro that the word “form” is used with two different signi- 
fications by racing men, and like the word “box” is very puzzling to 
foreigners. In the common acceptation it is synonymous with “shape,” 
and merely means the mechanical development of the individual. But in 
the language of the turf, when we say that a horse is “in form,” we intend 
to convey to our hearers that he is in high condition and fit to run. So 
again, the word is used in still another sense, for we speak of a horse’s 
“‘form” when we wish to allude to his powers on the turf, as compared 
with other well-known animals. Thus, if it is supposed that two three- 
year-olds, carrying the same weight, would run a mile-and-a-half, and come 
‘in abreast, it is said, that “the form” of the one is equal to that of the 
