50 THOROUGHBREDS 



answer all requirements. Indeed, we are inclined to think that the 

 American system of breeding and recognized rules for entry have done 

 much toward making the American Thoroughbred the successful rival of 

 his English cousin, which he has proved himself to be. 



Of the American Thoroughbreds which have earned distinction on 

 the turf, we may mention : American Eclipse, by Duroc, out of Miller's 

 Damsel, by Imp. Messenger ; Lexington, by Boston, out of Alice Car- 

 neal, by Imp. Sarpedon ; Prioress, by Imp. Sovereign, out of Reel, by 

 Glencoe ; Leamington, by Faugh-a-Ballagh, out of a mare by Pantaloon ; 

 Springbok, by Australian, out of Hester, by Lexington ; Nettie Norton, 

 by Imp. Leamington, out of Long Nine, by Lightning ; Ten Broeck, by 

 Imp. Phaeton, out of Fanny Holton, by Lexington ; Tom Ochiltree, by 

 Lexington, out of Katona, by Voucher ; Parole, by Imp. Leamington, 

 out of Maiden, by Glencoe ; and Iroquois, by Imp. Leamington. 



Iroquois, in 1881, played havoc with English ideas of the supremacy 

 of English horses, winning both the English Derby and the St. Leger 

 against the pick of English Thoroughbreds. Concerning his victory in 

 the St. Leger, Mr. Curzon, in his interesting chronicle of the Derby 

 "The Blue Ribbon of the Turf" after telling of the intense but fortu- 

 nately futile opposition to the American contestant, says : 



" At the last moment the betting settled down and Iroquois started for the St. Leger 

 as first favorite, the price offered being 2 to i. The story of the struggle need not be 

 retold. An exciting race between Geologist and the American resulted in the victory of 

 the latter, well ridden by England's greatest jockey [F. Archer], by a length. The win 

 was a popular one. As Iroquois was seen to have the race in hand, the excited shouts of 

 100,000 persons rent the air, the cheers resounding again and again as Archer brought 

 his horse into the enclosure. All present seemed highly gratified at the result of the race 

 and the defeat of those birds of evil omen which had croaked a few short hours before, as 

 if the disgrace of the gallant American steed was a certainty. 



" Some backers of the colt never faltered in their loyalty. The more Iroquois was 

 decried, and his chance made light of, all the readier they seemed to back their opinion 

 with their money. When the horse was seen stripped for the race, all men who could 

 judge saw in a moment that he was as fit as hands could render him, and many of those 

 who had hedged their money at a loss, because of the evil reports which had been so 

 industriously circulated, would have been glad enough to have again backed him could 

 they have the opportunity ; but, alas ! it was too late. They were wedged in the dense 

 mass of people who filled the stand, and had no alternative but to patiently wait and see 

 Iroquois credit Brother Johnathan with his first St. Leger. 



"During all that took place the quiet confidence of Jacob Pincus [Iroquois' trainer] 

 never faltered. Some persons were so bold as to suggest that he might have been bought 

 by the "enemy, "but Jacob went on with his training duties, heeding not the idle rumors. 

 And who will say that his reward was not a great one, as he proudly led the steed into 

 the paddock, after the supreme excitement of witnessing the race had been endured." 



Among the later celebrities of the turf, not one, perhaps, has stood 

 higher in public favor than the Bard (see illustration), a bay stallion, 

 foaled 1883, owned by A. J. Cassatt. As a recognition of his remarkable 

 career on the turf, we give place to the following tabulated pedigree : 



