VARIETIES OF THE HORSE. 41 



intended for general purposes, inferior to others who 

 have made no name on the turf, though as the progenitor 

 of racehorses he may be first-rate. In the present state 

 of the turf a state in which the love of gambling pre- 

 dominates over that of sport the best racehorse is the 

 one out of which most money is to be made; and a 

 worthless animal which by any means can attain the 

 position of favourite for a race of importance, is just as 

 good a friend to some parties as a real flyer whose light 

 is dexterously concealed under a bushel is to others. 

 Shape and make are things of less consequence in the 

 racehorse than in any other sort of animal devoted to 

 sporting purposes. As a yearling, pedigree and looks 

 will fetch a price, as anyone may see who attends either 

 of the great annual sales of yearlings ; but how often is 

 the spirited purchaser of an animal, whose family alone 

 ought to be bail for his winning the Derby, disappointed 

 in his purchase when it is put into training. As a two- 

 year-old the colt's looks are comparatively of no moment 

 if he can only move ; and if he performs fairly in private, 

 he will soon make a reputation for himself which may 

 later on be lost or sustained, as the case may be, when 

 he comes out in public. If the colt be sound as the 

 proverbial roach, hardy as a donkey, quiet as a sheep, 

 and able to stay at his own pace till that day twelve- 

 months, he would be by many considered an animal 

 likely to ' ' improve the breed of horses ; " but if he have 

 not speed (and the standard of speed in a racing stable 

 is a trifle higher than in most other places), he will never 

 have the chance of doing so. He may be the best hunter 

 or steeple-chaser of his day ; but, unless he be sold to the 

 foreigners, he will be incapacitated for parental duties 

 almost to a certainty, and so his good qualities will be 



