66 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



of any other horse, except his own ancestors, in 

 American Thoroughbred genealogies. 



During the Civil War the breeding of Thor- 

 oughbreds was severely interrupted, as in Ken- 

 tucky and the South generally there were sterner 

 things to be done. Besides, the armies were al- 

 ways looking for horses without any prejudices 

 against Thoroughbreds, and the guerrilla bands 

 had an absolute fondness for them. It did not 

 cease, but languished. Immediately afterwards it 

 started again, there being many new importa- 

 tions from England, and in 1866 Jerome Park 

 was opened and a new era in racing began. In 

 this new era the first horse to catch the popu- 

 lar affection was Harry Bassett, by Lexington out 

 of Canary by imported Albion. This horse was 

 the people's idol, and whenever he was to run the 

 accommodations of the race-course were all too 

 small to hold the crowds. As a two and three- 

 year old he won all of his engagements, except the 

 first, in which he started, when a blunder at the 

 post took away his chances. Although bred in 

 Kentucky, the Kentuckians sought a horse to 

 clip his laurels, and the choice fell on old John 



