FOREIGN HORSES ARE BROKE EARLY. 71 



Others on retiring from the turf were sound as on the day of 

 their birth. Now these horses had run over a hundred races 

 each, besides probably an equal number of trials, and it may 

 be surmised could, if required, have done as much more. 

 Their retirement was simply because they were required for 

 the stud or to go abroad : and if evidence were needed of their 

 absolute soundness, it is found in the latter fact ; for foreigners 

 seldom make the mistake of buying any but sound horses — a 

 compliment we can hardly pay ourselves. 



In judging of this matter it must also be borne in mind 

 that a horse that formerly ran one race a year, would in the 

 present day run forty or more — doing, in fact, more in one year, 

 than of old was done in a lifetime. We can judge too from 

 horses imported from nearly every quarter of the globe, which 

 we are told were not broke early, nor raced till late in life. 

 Yet these, after receiving careful treatment in skilful hands, 

 are, in comparison to our own early broke ones, deficient 

 both in speed and stamina. The French horses, it is true, are 

 equal to ours ; but why ? because they are broke and run 

 early, as ours are. Whilst the instances of the American mare 

 Prioress and a few other winners, are only the exceptions to 

 prove my assertion. The Americans have achieved victories, 

 not very many, with other horses, but in two-year-old races 

 only ; and it is a notable fact that after a year's racing in this 

 country, their horses changed their pristine youthful vigour 

 for premature old age — Umpire to wit, who did nothing 

 after that age, and there are other examples. 



At all events, we have seen nothing in any way to prove 

 the advantage of late breaking ; and I think the two cases I 

 am about to adduce, if honestly compared with our system 

 should conclusively instruct us to adhere to it. 



They are the following : The Arabs we have seen do not 



