HISTORY OF HORSE-RACING. 5 



times horses ran up to their trials and how sometimes they 

 failed to do so ; and if no other explanation be deducible, at 

 least a lesson as to the uncertainty of the turf may be learnt. 



When we come to discuss the breeding of racehorses, we 

 are once more beset with difficulties. For there seems in very 

 truth, as far as the science has gone at present, to be no ' royal 

 road ' to breeding. All men who have devoted themselves to 

 this study have their individual hobbies. Many preach what 

 they do not practise ; while others who put their theories into 

 practice do more harm than good, the theories relating rather 

 to the immediate pecuniary advantage to be derived from sale 

 than to ultimate improvement in the quality of the stock. 



It is the study of every breeder to find that ' nick ' of blood 

 which will produce winners ; and after infinite care, thought, 

 study, and experience the 'nick' is sometimes found and the 

 winner produced. The breeder rejoices. His toil seems to 

 be rewarded. His calculations have proved accurate. In the 

 youngsters the faults of the sire have been, let us say, corrected 

 by the dam. His stamina joined to her speed results in the 

 appearance of a racehorse far removed from the common. 

 Eagerly the breeder tries the combination again, and what is 

 the result ? Almost as often as not a worthless animal. 



The union of Dutch Skater and Cantiniere gave birth to 

 that excellent mare Dutch Oven. The combination looked 

 promising and proved notably successful ; but the next child 

 of these well-mated parents was Prince Maurice, a handsome 

 colt truly, and thoroughly sound throughout his career, but 

 unable to gallop and valueless as a racehorse. Again, the result 

 of sending Devotion to Hermit was Thebais, a mare of the 

 first class, winner of the One Thousand and Oaks, possessed of 

 speed and exceptional stoutness. Devotion visits Hermit again 

 and gives birth to St. Marguerite, a delicate mare which never- 

 theless wins the One Thousand Guineas. Clairvaux, a wonder- 

 fully speedy colt, is another success so long as he can be trained. 

 Again a foal is born to these two, a colt, St. Honorat, which is 

 bought for 4,000 guineas and reluctantly parted with ; but he 



