92 THE HORSE 



trying the extreme length which their horses can get. Long courses have 

 been given up almost entirely for this reason, among others, and because 

 also, in particular, it has been found that the competing horses do not 

 really race for more than half or a quarter of the distance ; consequently, 

 we have no true test in England beyond two miles four furlongs, which 

 have been run over the somewhat severe course of Ascot by West Australian 

 and Kingston, at the rate of thirteen seconds and a quarter per furlong, 

 the latter horse carrying 9 stone. This feat will most triumphantly 

 contrast with any performance of ancient or modern times, either in 

 England or America, for it will be found on examination to be from three- 

 quarters to half a second per furlong faster than the recorded rate of 

 Childers, and half a second faster than Lexington, even with the advantage 

 of a running start, and carrying 7 stone 5 pounds as a foui'-year-old, 

 against Kingston, five-year-old, with 9 stone. We may, therefore, 

 assume that some, at all events, of our modern horses are capable of suc- 

 cessfully contending with the American horses at any reasonable distance, 

 for the latter have never yet come up to the time made in this country, 

 either here or in America, and without an allowance of at least a stone 

 they have never yet had a chance, with the exception of Umpire in his 

 two-year-old career. My belief is that early training for short distances 

 interferes with the chance of any individual horse doing a long distance in 

 the shortest possible time, but the power remains in the breed, and can at 

 any time be developed in a sound horse of the stoutest blood we possess. 

 Unfortunately, of late years, speed has been all in all, and we have too 

 much neglected the stout old strains of Waxy and Tramp for that of the 

 three sons of Bussard — Selim, Castrel, and Rubens. The Jockey Club, 

 however, at the instigation of Lord Redesdale, have it in contemplation to 

 prevent two-year-old races early in the year, and I trust that by this and 

 other regulations a stop may be put to the course of events which certainly . 

 seem to have a tendency to produce the mischief which, however, is not 

 yet finally accomplished. I am afraid that there would be some difficulty 

 in now getting twenty-eight horses to repeat Mr. Osbaldeston's feat, which 

 I have inserted as one proof of the stoutness of our modern breed ; but 

 this would be entirely a matter of price, for there are plenty of thorough- 

 bred hunters which are capable of effecting it, the value of such animals 

 being about 300^. apiece, and few owners would therefore lend them. 

 Lord Redesdale seems entirely to have overlooked the enormous increase 

 of this class of horses within the last forty years. Prior to that time a 

 thoroughbred hunter was only, to be met with, as a rule, in the great grass 

 countries, and " the provincials " were contented with half-breds, which 

 were supposed to be, and really were, better able to get over the great 

 sprawling fences and other difficult jumps which were to be found at every 

 two or three hundred yards. Fashion, however, supported by the change in 

 the agricultural management of the country, has brought the thoroughbred 

 into general use ; and with a long list of more than a hundred packs of fox- 

 hounds, each perhaps followed by, on the average, thirty reputed thorough- 

 breds, more or less up to weight, we find 3000 horses of this class to be 

 iiupplied. Now the whole of the foals dropped in each year and recorded 

 ill the Stud-book do not altogether come up to one-half of this number, 

 and, deducting those horses which are unable to carry more than 7 



