INTRODUCTION 



THIS volume should have made its appearance towards the close of last 

 year but the regrettable death of Bertram Stevens, who had the work 

 in hand, practically suspended matters in connection with its publica- 

 tion. With characteristic energy Mr. Harry Julius took up the work, 

 and it is due to his efforts that the book is now complete. The 

 amount of detail work concerned in bringing out this publication has been 

 very great, and can only be appreciated properly by those like myself who have 

 been connected with Mr. Harry Julius during the time the book was in the 

 press. 



The scope of the volume as originally planned by the late Bertram Stevens 

 was very much wider than the present book. It was found as the work pro- 

 gressed that the project was too ambitious and the field too large to cover in 

 detail. 



A general view of the development of Australian racing has been 

 embodied, and the breeding of the racehorse in the Southern Hemisphere 

 lightly touched on. The illustrations, w^hich include some of the best per- 

 formers of the present day, are devoted mainly to reproductions of pictures 

 painted by Mr. Martin Stainforth. To make a comprehensive list of famous 

 horses, Mr. Stainforth executed a number of paintings especially for the book. 

 Pictures of other horses who have made their names famous on the racecourse 

 or at the stud are also reproduced, and should serve as a valuable record to 

 those interested in the thoroughbred. 



Delays have been experienced in many cases with the colour reproduc- 

 tions. Many of the original blocks had to be discarded as they failed to 

 accurately record the original colour and detail of line of Martin Stainforth's 

 pictures. To overcome this a great many of the colour plates were made 

 again . 



The publishers are indebted to a great many people for their helpful 

 efforts — those w^ho have loaned pictures for reproduction, and the officials of 

 the Australian Jockey Ciub, Victoria Racing Club and the Rosehill Race Club — 

 in connection with the publication of this book. 



They have been particularly fortunate in having been able to secure Dr. 

 W. H. Lang to write the bulk of the letterpress. No one is more conversant 

 wdth the thoroughbred than Dr. Lang, and his literary style speaks for itself. 



Dr. Stewart McKay has contributed a scientific article which opens up a 

 new train of thought in connection with the racehorse, while others who have 

 lent a helping hand are Messrs. Frank Wilkinson and Tom Willis. 



Thanks are due to the trustees of the National Art Gallery of N.S.W., Sir 

 Samuel Hordern, Dr. Stewart McKay, Messrs. McEvilly, R. De Mestre, W. A. 

 Crowie, G. F. Rowe, A. J. Morton, Jas. Barden, F. G. White, Norman 

 Falkiner, W. M. Borthwick, J. Campbell Wood, T. A. Stirton, Dr. Herbert 

 Marks, Mrs. H. Gordon, Mrs. Flemmich, Mrs. F. Body, and Mrs. Herbert 

 Marks, for permission to reproduce pictures in their possession. 



KEN AUSTIN. 



