THE HORSE. 19 



literally, getting to the head of the quarter stretch, as he came out at 

 the winning stand! The importers of Alexander, at any rate, were so 

 delighted at his performance, that they presented Wheelan with a mag- 

 nificent timing-watch, and other valuable presents, and sent Messrs. C. 

 and B. a superb service of plate, which may, at any time, be seen at 

 their establishment, in Maiden Lane." 



This difference between English and American trotters is clearly at- 

 tributable to superior training and jockeying. We have in this country 

 hundreds of Rareys, who can teach not only the nobles of the realm but 

 the common jockeys also, the mysterious arts of horse-training and 

 managing, although they may not now be able to command for their 

 services quite the compensation which that gentleman received. 



BREEDJi\'G. — Breeders of all kinds of animals are unanimous in their 

 opinions that it is necessary to have distinct varieties, usually distin- 

 guished as thorough-bred, for the propagation of the species, whether it 

 be determined to carry on the unblemished pedigree, or to cross with 

 other breeds. The high value set upon the short-horned cattle, is esti- 

 mated principally by the purity of the blood ; and the true Southdown or 

 Leicester sheep by a similar criterion. 



It is a general observation with those who have devoted attention to 

 the subject, that horses and mares require much time after they have 

 been trained, before they distinguish themselves as the progenitors of 

 first-rate stock. This affords another argument in favor of early train- 

 ing. Both with mares and stallions their best foals have often not come 

 forth till they were advanced in years. According to the presumed age 

 of the Godolphin Arabian, he was thirteen years old when he became 

 the sire of Regulus. Paynator and Whalebone were each of them 

 twenty years old when their sons. Dr. Syntax and Sir Hercules, were 

 foaled. Potoooooooo, Sultan, Langar, and Venison, were each of them 

 sixteen years old when they became the sires respectively of Waxy, Bay 

 Middieton, Epirus and Kingston. Melbourne was fifteen when he begot 

 West Australian ; Hap-hazard fourteen when he was the sire of Filho da 

 Puta. Orville was the same age when he was the sire of Ebor, and 

 twenty when he begot the still more celebrated Emilius; and an infinity 

 of similar examples may be added. This property applies more gener- 

 ally to stallions than to mares : for it is sometimes apparent, that their 

 first foals are vastly superior to their subsequent produce. This was the 

 case in olden times with the dams of Mark Antony, Conductor, Pyrrhus, 

 and Pantaloon ; and more recently with Sultan, Touchstone, Sir Her- 

 cules, and Filho da Puta. AVhether the subsequent change of partners 

 has any prejudicial effect on the future progeny, is a subject worthy the 

 most scrupulous attention of breeders. The case of Penelope is in favor 

 of the assumption ; for the superiority of her first seven foals by Waxy, 

 over the others by different horses, is a fact which cannot be disputed. 

 It is curious to remark, that when a thorough-bred mare has once had 

 foals to common horses, no subsequent foals which she may have had 

 by thorough-bred horses have ever evinced any pretensions to racing 

 qualities. There may be an exception ; but I believe I am correct in 

 stating that there is not. It is laid down as a principle, " That when a 

 pure animal, of any breed, has once been pregnant to one of a different 



