1 86 ON RUNNING HORSES 



proportion to the quantity ofblood: thus, three- 

 part bred horfes will perlevere longer than half- 

 bred, and thofe got by bred horfes out of 

 three-part bred mares, will fometimes equal the 

 real racers. Although ^mongft horfes equally 

 well-bred, fuperior external conformation will 

 generally prevail in the race, yet racing can in 

 no fort be laid abfolutely to depend on good 

 (hape ; it depends entirely on blood : for ex- 

 ample, take the worft fhaped true-bred horfe 

 you can find, and the bed fhaped common 

 liorfe ; let the latter have a fine coat, loofe throp- 

 ple, high and declined flioulder, length, fpeed, 

 in fine, all the admired points of the racer (and 

 fuch common horfes are orcafionally to be 

 found) let them run four miles, and the bred- 

 horfe, although out-footed at firft, (hall always 

 win the race. This principle is fo univerfal, that 

 perhaps it would be altogether impraBicable to 

 find a thorough-bred horfe in England, fuffici- ' 

 ently bad, to be beaten four miles by the fpeediefl: 

 and heft common bred hack. All bred horfes 

 cannot race, many of the highefl: blood having 

 neither the gift of fpeed nor continuance ; many 

 are defe6live in the material points of confor- 

 mation, as it happens in common horfes. 



The ufual trial of fpeed in Englifli racing, is 

 the diflance of a fingle mile ; of continuance, 

 ftoutnefs, or bottom, four miles. It has been 

 aliened with confidence, but not proved, that 



Flying 



