68 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



rate of speed. Indeed, the English methods were 

 coming more into vogue. That the votaries of the 

 turf might have what they wanted, the breed- 

 ers imported many new stallions and not a few 

 mares from England. The result was that what 

 was needed for the new style of racing was ob- 

 tained. I have often had doubts whether this 

 change was a good thing either for the turf or for 

 the breed of horses. The short dashes enable the 

 bookmakers to bet against six races in an after- 

 noon, and so largely increase the toll they levy 

 on the public. The racing stables are enabled to 

 contest for more purses and so increase their 

 earnings. There is a greater demand for race- 

 horses, so the breeders have a larger and a better 

 market. But, after all, the sport of racing is only 

 permitted because it tends to improve the breed 

 of horses ; not race-horses alone, but because the 

 Thoroughbred, when crossed with other strains 

 and types, tends to improve those types. Now, 

 does the blood of the new-fashioned horse assimi- 

 late so well with the common blood as that of the 

 more compact, and possibly sturdier, horse of 

 thirty or fifty years ago? My opinion is that it 



