230 THE RACEHORSE AS HE WAS AND IS. 



(named Kisber after the place he was foaled at) out of an 

 English-bred mare. The Austrians thus possess the sire and 

 dam of a winner of the Derby, besides many other mares and 

 stallions, once our own, equally well and fashionably bred. 

 Some idea of the number may be had from the fact that 

 from the year 1873 to 1876 inclusive, foreign purchasers were 

 found, from eighteen different countries, for 490 horses, chiefly 

 brood mares and stallions, yearlings and unnamed young 

 horses being reckoned in a different list, which would pro- 

 bably sum to as many more, or, together, something like 

 250 a year ; and of the former no less than 146 went to 

 France and forty-seven to Austria. 



I think, from the facts related, that nothing more is wanted 

 to show that our horses are better now than at any other 

 period in our history ; but I cannot refrain from adding an 

 incident in support of my argument, because of its special 

 interest. I have already adverted to the match made between 

 the Prince of Wales and Lord Strathnairn ; and I may now 

 add that the race itself created considerable excitement on 

 account of the breed of Alep and his unbeaten career, and 

 is the more worthy of record because this one of the com- 

 petitors was the first racehorse kept by royalty for many 

 years. Its chief professional interest lay, of course, in the 

 fact that, in the result, it determined the superiority of a 

 moderately half-bred Arab crossed with English blood over a 

 pure Arab, and one of the very best of his race ; and this will 

 be readily admitted, I should hope, as another proof of the 

 superiority of our thoroughbred horses over all others, how- 

 ever bred. I am corroborated in this opinion by a leading 

 article in the Standard oi July 7th, 1877, which runs thus: — 



"Again wc find that when it comes to a match between a 

 pure-bred Arab and a horse with English blood in his veins, 



