ABDALLAH. 177 



larity of pedigroe; and this is the common error of many who reckon 

 on the superiority of a given animal l^ecause he contains so great a 

 number of crosses of families all proven by their known excellence of 

 blood, not counting on the possible, or even very probable, chance of 

 that blood working differently in different combinations. The Star 

 blood has at all times worked well in its further commingling with the 

 Messenger strains; and in the produce of Hambletonian from Star 

 mares, it has eclipsed all its previous renown as performers on the 

 trotting course. But the effect of this all-powerful combination on 

 the struggling Bellfounder element is quite visible. While the influ- 

 ence of the Bellfoimder blood is apparent in the performances of 

 Dexter, Startle, Socrates, Jay Gould, Aberdeen, Micawber, and Hunt- 

 ress, it is also clear, from the change of form, that the two all-powerful 

 elements of Messenger and Diomed are obtaining a j^hysiological as 

 well as an arithmetical supremacy, and if in the next generation the 

 Dexters, the Startles, the Jay Goulds, and even the Huntresses fall 

 behind those of this generation, the astute breeder may discover the 

 cause in the overpowering of the ever-vital and ever-magical, but 

 overmatched, Bellfounder element. The equilibrium of the best piece 

 of mechanism can be disturbed, and so can the best-poised blood 

 forces in breeding. 



I will again refrain from entering the domain of prophecy, but will 

 venture the suggestion that the present and the past will justify me 

 in saying that the most successful sires produced by Hambletonian 

 are and have been those in which the force and effect of the Bell- 

 founder blood has been most apparent, and where its harmonious 

 union with that of Messenger has been the least disturbed. If I am 

 asked to name them, I will say that they will be found in the follow- 

 ing list: Alexander's Abdallah, Administrator, Duke of Brunswick, 

 Edward Everett, Florida, Happy Medium, Knickerbocker, Electioneer, 

 Middletown, Volunteer, George Wilkes, Cuyler, Stephen A. Douglas. , 



Bear in mind that I here refer to the possession of the trotting 

 quality, and the ability to transmit the same. The above animals all 

 have their individual peculiarities, some of them perhaps have serious 

 defects, which would exclude them from my choice as breeding stal- 

 lions; but I here speak of them only in the one aspect of possessing 

 the trotting quality, and their ability to transmit the same. As I shall 

 treat of each and all of these at the proper place, and give my opinions 

 freely and fully, I wish it understood that I reserve that place for my 

 full estimate of the qualities and value of each. 



