86 THE ORANGE COUNTY 



ties and propensities of the different families of the thorough- 

 bred horse can only be attained by constant attention and 

 careful comparisons of results, and whoever enters on the 

 costly speculation without having minutely investigated these 

 matters, does so with very little more than chance to befriend 

 him. In making purchases of untried racing stock it is 

 equally essential To those who speculate upon racing ven- 

 tures it is a subject of no mean importance, for it will enable 

 them to draw valuable inferences with reference to dark 

 horses. The crosses which have from time to time been most 

 eminently successful speak for themselves in the respective 

 pedigrees of horses of celebrity; to attempt to enumerate 

 them would be an irksome and unprofitable task. When a 

 mare has terminated her career on the turf she is very com- 

 monly consigned to the stud; in many instances without 

 considering her worth in that department. Thus a vast number 

 of foals are produced, many of which occasion disappointment. 

 This is a difficulty which cannot readily be overcome; for 

 the question arises, " What defects ought to exclude a mare 

 from the stud?" Constitutional unsoundness and hereditary 

 infirmities, no doubt; but beyond these, where is the line 

 to be drawn? "Unwilling to sell a mare for a trifling sum, 

 the owner very often reconciles himself with the flattering 

 excuse that she possesses or inherits some sterling qualities 

 which may descend to her progeny. 



It must be confessed that there are too many mares used 

 for breeding which are unworthy of the honor; but, again, it 

 must be remembered that the produce, in due time, has to 

 undergo the refining process through the medium of that 

 inquisitive crucible, the race-course, which assists in some 

 measure in the extirpation of weeds. Worthless fillies, the 

 produce of worthless parents, may, in the possession of some 

 persons, go on for a time ; but there are few who do not soon 

 become weary of breeding such rubbish. Thus there is aji 

 antidote to the evil. If the facilities for breeding inferior 

 stock were confined to the females, the consequences would be 

 unimportant; but unfortunately it extends to the males. It 

 appears to be an irreconcilable contradiction that the pub- 

 lic, who have to pay for the services of a horse, would ever 

 patronize one unless he was eminent for his good qualities; 

 neither will judicious and experienced breeders ever fall into 

 that error; but there are young beginners who do, and thus 

 it is that animals which never ought to be permitted to per- 

 petuate their species keep up a race distinguished for bad 

 properties. These errors are committed only by a small pro- 



