292 CLAY HAMBLETONIANS. 



stroke which came into the family from the Canadian mare Surry. 

 The stroke of the Clays, Columbuses, St. Lawrences and Canadians 

 generally bears a similarity in this regard. They trail their feet out 

 behind further, and do not lift the hocks as high as in some other 

 families. 



When crossed with the blood of Bellfounder in Sayer's Harry Clay, 

 or coming through Hambletonian, the leverage which distinguished 

 the Bellfounder and the original Clay seemed to encounter a mutual 

 augmentation, and in each case respectively the increase of leverage 

 is visible. Even when the cross was not from one of the strong or 

 positive families the effect on the gait or action of the rear propellers 

 is noticeable and decisive in large degree, as an indication of the 

 blood forces which have combined to produce the result. 



I have several times before shown that the one great need of the 

 Messenger family was increase of leverage; that Bellfounder gave 

 this, and the result was an increase of speed and trotting quality. 

 The success of the Clay cross in the Hambletonians may, in like man- 

 ner, be credited to the same cause in as great degree as anything else. 

 It is noticeable that the success of the cross in the Bashaw and Clay 

 blood has been in proportion to the degree of increase in leverage. 

 Thus the Hambletonians from Bashaw mares — not Clays — bear a 

 small ratio of speed to those whose dams were Clays; and, further, 

 among the Clays, the most distinguished are those reinforced by the 

 additional Bellfounder leverage — thus proving that the increase in 

 trotting quality is in proportion to the increase in leverage. 



Moreover, this Clay family are credited with inheriting from this 

 same maternal ancestor a certain peculiarity of temperament, which 

 by some has been supposed to have come from his apparent low- 

 breeding, and to indicate a lack of stamina. They have often been 

 styled quitters. While I do not concede that the trait is a lack of 

 staying quality, or any other than a peculiarity of temperament — a 

 nervous or mental trait, it must be admitted that it comes out now 

 and then in such unmistakable form as to amount to a family trait or 

 characteristic, and this, when it does appear, may also be considered 

 as a proof of kinship; for it has appeared so often in the various 

 branches of the Clay family, and with such decided manifestations, as 

 to show that it is a deeply seated and inheritable mental or nerve 

 characteristic. 



Moreover, this Clay family have been noted for one other family trait 

 or characteristic in large degree, and with great prevalence, and that 

 is, in the matter of color and superficial markings. 



