BREEDERS AND BREEDING 95 



also Mr. John Porter's conviction, and his long 

 experience is surely not to be lightly regarded. I 

 also entertain the same ideas as he does in my dislike 

 for early two-year-old racing — how often do we 

 see the winner or the Brocklesby, or some other 

 important two-year-old race, finish in the autumn 

 nowhere in a nursery with less than 7 stone .? As 

 long as racing goes on, however, the small and 

 early ones must have occupation found for them, I 

 suppose, and it would be useless to complain ; but 

 something might be done to mitigate the supply 

 of the small and early. 



The subject I am treating is such a vast one, 

 there is so much to be said in a limited space, that 

 I must perforce turn abruptly from one point to 

 another, and a matter not to be omitted is reference 

 to the great mistake of keeping too many mares at 

 one stud. One or two establishments occur to me 

 where the produce have deteriorated in an alarming 

 manner from overstocking, and also from keeping 

 for breeding purposes fillies that have been unsold 

 and could only be regarded as worthless. We have 

 had notable cases of late years. A most important 

 factor to the success of any undertaking is a good 

 manager, who should be to a great extent allowed a 

 free hand, and who has the courage of his opinions. 

 He may make mistakes and get rid of a mare that 



