ABDALLAH. 179 



In estimating his value as a sire, in view of this disparaging ratio, 

 we must bear in mind several facts, among which must be the random 

 method in which mares have been selected for his service. He had 

 some superior mares, and many very valuable ones that were ill suited to 

 him as a sire. The philosophy of his make-up was little understood 

 and less studied even by those who j^atronized his services. Many 

 were sent to him as matters of experimenting, that were even unworthy 

 of a trial, but their supposed fitness secured them a place. In looking 

 over the list, I am compelled to dissent from the view of many who 

 should be regarded as the best of authorities. 



It will be found that he did best succeed with highly-bred mares, 

 made up of part-bred and good road stock, having a strong, ])ut 

 not an overpowering infusion of Messenger blood. The part-bred 

 mares, coming from crosses of Messenger, Trustee, American Eclijise, 

 Duroc, Henry, May Day, Liberty, Bolivar, Blucher, Patriot, American 

 Star, were those in which he showed his chief superiority. But it was 

 those that had these crosses, and not the strong and positive whole 

 bloods — ^not the deeply in-bred Messenger, never the strictly thorough- 

 bred — the philosophy of which fact must be apparent to every reader 

 of the principles to which we have previously adverted. 



The following list, which has been taken from a 2:30 list to the close 

 of the year 1877, will show the standing of the family of Hamble- 



tonian by the record: 



No. Performers. Heats. Time. 



Hambletonian 27 344 2:ll^i 



Abdiillah (Alexander's) son of Hambletonian 5 351 2:14 



Abdallah (Goldsmith's) son of Volunteer 1 1 2 :30 



Abadallah Pilot, son of Alexander's Abdallah 1 2 2:28 



Almont, son of " " 3 7 2:25 



Belmont, " " " 3 35 2:23i^ 



Billy Denton, son of Hambletonian 1 5 2 :28 



Chosroes, " " . . ., 1 2 2:29 



Delmonico, son of Guy Miller 1 3 2 :25 



Edward Everett, sou of Hambletonian 6 176 2 :18 



George Wilkes, " " 2 74 2 :21 



Gideon, " " 1 6 2:28^ 



Hambletonian (Curtis') son of " 2 5 2 :25i^ 



Hambletonian (Sackett's) " " 1 16 2 :24 



Hambletonian (Whipple's) son of Guy MilliT 6 21 2:26}^ 



Hambletonian fVVood's) son of Alexander's Abdallah 4 31 2:23 



Happy Medium, son of Hambletonian 3 7 2 :27 



Independent, " " 1 1 2 :299i 



Carried forward 69 1,087 



