414 GOVERXOK SPRAGUE. 



tonian or in-bred Messenger sire on the Dviroc- Messenger mare, as in 

 the case of Thorndale, Ahnont, x\dministrator, Volunteer, Black- 

 wood and Swio-erl — is a line of breedinji; that has Ijeen attended with the 

 most distinguished success; but the other has been so signal a failure, 

 that I hardly think at this day the chances of a good colt from a 

 daughter or granddaughter of Hambletonian and a son of Mambrino 

 Chief would be worth the service of either sire or dam. The only 

 chances of success would be in those cases where, as in this, the 

 Duroc cross in the sire was remote, and not positive. In the case of 

 Rhode Islaiid, it is apparent that, whatever may Imve been the relative 

 preponderance of Duroc or Messenger character in Cock of the 

 Rock — a fact that I am not prepared to state — the Messenger, and not 

 the Duroc, was upjiermost in Rhode Island; for, be it understood, 

 that these two bloods were so marked and positive, and so different in 

 their peculiarities, that, while they worked so well in many respects? 

 and constitute in all combinations the most royal trotting blood yet 

 known in this country, the relative characteristics of each are clearly 

 recognizable, however remote from the parent stock or first union. 

 Thus the Duroc is faintly recognizable in the Volunteers, clearly in 

 the Stars, the Almonts, Blackwoods, and all others similarly bred — not 

 more so than the Messenger, but as clear and distinct — while in 

 Rhode Island and Sprague the Duroc seems to have disappeared; the 

 blood, of course, is there, in a remote and feeble current, but its char- 

 acteristics are buried, obscured, if not obliterated, by the outliving 

 and doubly-reinforced strains of old Messenger, that stamp character 

 on every lineament of this horse as a trotter. Governor Sprague is a 

 Messenger of the highest type — in conformation, in healthful soiuid- 

 ness of blood, bone, tissue, muscle and fibre. He has the level brain, 

 and the quiet, steady nerve of the best of the Messengers. His cour- 

 age and eager power of will hold him ready for the sharpest and 

 fiercest contest; and yet he is as steady in the midst of earnest con- 

 test as when jogging along. I think in this respect he is a marvelous 

 horse. He cares nothing for the presence of one or many horses. 

 No gelding could be more qviiet or unmoved by the close proximity 

 or even contiguity of other horses, of either sex. And he is so steady 

 and true in harness, and easy to manage, that it almost leaves it 

 uncertain, as between him and his driver, which was the teacher, and 

 which the pupil. This quietness of temper is shown in him and his 

 sire in the predisposition to take on flesh. He is just like his sire in 

 this respect — requiring constant work, or he will take on too much 



