188 THE HORSE BOOK. 



Speed has been the great desideratum and size 

 and shape have been allowed to take care of 

 themselves. 



It is not tihe intention to enter here into any 

 discussion of Thoroughbred bloodlines save in 

 one instance. Listening to men talk of Thor- 

 oughbred pedigrees you hear them refer to the 

 lines of Herod, Matchem and Eclipse. There 

 were three great progenitors of speed in the 

 early day — all of eastern origin. The Herod 

 line traces in male ascent to the Byerly Turk, 

 the Matchem line to the Grodolphin Arabian and 

 the Eclipse line to the Darley Arabian. These 

 are the three great Thoroughbred strains. Nor 

 is it the intention to discuss racing or breeding 

 for race horses in any of its phases, but it may 

 be noted in passing that the age of every race 

 horse dates from Jan. 1 of the year in which 

 he is foaled. Thus if a colt is dropped Jan. 1 

 he is a year old on the 365th day after he was 

 born. On the other hand if he is foaled at half- 

 past eleven on the night of Dec. 31 he is a year 

 old when he has ac'tually lived but thirty min- 

 utes. This applies to trotters and pacers as 

 well as Thoroughbreds. 



As has already been said, the influence of the 

 Thoroughbred has been felt by every improved 

 light breed. To cross in with the race horse 

 was the easiest and quickest way to inject qual- 

 ity, style, speed and stamina. Being the oldest 

 breed, with a stud book started in England in 



