AN IMPRESSIVE SIRE. 209 



Bodine, dam by Harry Clay, 41 inches, and thus, g'enerally. Now, 

 while there is in those of that conformation a tendency toward 

 a dwelling gait, and an appearance of great expenditure of power, 

 when this cross is coupled with two crosses of the Bellfounder blood, 

 the limb is gathered up in time for the fast rates of a Bodine, a 

 St. Julien, a Gazelle or Prospero. Hence it would seem that the 

 long lever had, in this case, the master muscle to propel it. 



From all the study I have been able to give the subject, I am per- 

 suaded that the family conformation and measurement of the Bell- 

 founder and that of the Messengers and Abdallahs differed very 

 slightly, which is also a proof of their kinship. I incline to the opinion, 

 that the Bellfounder leverasre was somewhat long-er than that of Abdal- 

 lah, but in like proportion. From all that I can gather, after many 

 examinations, I am satisfied the Abdallah tyi^e was 39 — 23, and that 

 Hambletonian (himself a little larger) breeds back to that type, even 

 in the first cross. That the in-bred Hambletonians will, and do, go 

 back toward the Abdallah standard in many particulars, I have already 

 shown. Gov. Sprague's measurement, 39 — 23^, is to the same effect, 

 and settles the question, if there ever was any question, as to his dam 

 being by Hambletonian. But the strongest instance is that of Strader's 

 C. M. Clay, from a long-limbed grandsire and an Abdallah mare, the 

 latter controlhng both as to measurement and as to srait — a total 

 ileparture from the early Clay standard — and his measure is 39 — 23. 

 Such a fact proves the prepotency of the Abdallah blood, notwithstand- 

 ing it is true that he yielded so much of the form of Hambletonian 

 to Bellfounder. 



There can be no doubt that if Florida was taken from the stud and 

 trained he would make a stallion among the fastest, and perhaps equal 

 to any tlmt Hambletonian has joroduced. His produce that have come 

 under my inspection leave in my mind the belief, also, that he will 

 prove an impressive sire, especially when mated with mares of kindred 

 blood, as those belonging to the Hambletonian family. He has none, 

 I believe, older than six years, and I have been informed that they 

 showed his image and characteristics, without one exception. I have 

 not seen a lot of stock, the produce of one horse, that bore more of 

 the impress of the sire than I have seen in those of the get of Florida 

 that have come under my notice — above twenty-five in number. 

 From the apparent speed and ready trotting action of the yearlings 

 and two-year-olds of the produce of Florida, I should say he gives 

 evidence that he Avill produce early trotters. The three points of his 



