THE NOBLE SCIENCE, 61 



tliorouQ^h-bred ; but I think the taste for the hlo-hest 

 bred is daily gaining ground ; and, for my own part, I am 

 thoroughly convinced that a race-horse, with bone and 

 substance sufficient to qualify him for the rough and 

 smooth encounter of crossing a country, is, beyond all 

 comparison, superior to the best cock-tail that can be 

 produced. As for pace, it has been proved, beyond dis- 

 pute, that the winner of the Derby would not be fast 

 enough to live with hounds at their utmost speed. The 

 great match over the Beacon-course at Newmarket, be- 

 tween foxhounds and race-horses in training for the 

 2mrpose, is fresh in the memory of many. The horses 

 had not a chance with the hounds, although one was 

 ridden blind, and the other completely done up in the 

 attempt. 



Speaking only from my own experience, I have 

 always observed, and have also found myself, that a 

 thorough-bred horse could maintain the best pace, which 

 a horse must go to be upon any terms with hounds, or 

 carry his rider anything like what is called ''up to 

 them," with far greater ease to himself than those of 

 inferior pedigree. Nimrod most justly remarks, that 

 " wind is strength," and that " when the puff is out of a 

 horse, a mountain or a mole-hill are much the same to 

 him." A race-horse is not only superior in stamina, and 

 the powers of endurance, but is generally clearer winded, 

 and, therefore, not blow^n by double the exertion which 

 would stop a cock-tail. I am far from wishing to insi- 

 nuate that there has not been, and I hope still will be, 



