22 DETERIORATED CONDITION OF 



the result of making our racers run at a much 

 earlier age, at two instead of at four years old. 

 Doubtless, this change in the age at which 

 the animals are made to run, has contributed 

 to the totality of the evils complained of; but 

 this system of early running did not exist 

 when the tasks performed were great, and 

 would never have been adopted had the old 

 standard for measuring the performances on 

 our turf been maintained. Nothing at least 

 can be more certain than that horses bred to 

 obtain increased bounties, but having to per- 

 form the old tasks, would not be allowed by 

 their owners to run until they had arrived at 

 what was found to be the best age for per- 

 forming those tasks. 



The qualities in our race-horses which are 

 become so deteriorated are natural ones, namely, 

 constitutional vigour, freedom from hereditary 

 diseases, compactness of form, and great en- 

 durance under severe exertion. A general 

 deterioration of the natural qualities of domes- 

 ticated animals consequent on having been 

 long subjected to highly unnatural treatment, 

 can only be remedied by having recourse to 

 fresh blood, to that of a race which as yet has 



