68 THE HORSE 



the pedigrees and performances of the race -horse in 

 America. Since that time stud-books have been main- 

 tained in which the pedigrees of all American thor- 

 oughbreds may be found. Throughout the last cen- 

 tury English thoroughbreds have been imported and 

 crossed with our own stock till at this time the blood 

 in both countries is the same, and the turf contests 

 between English and American horses, here and in 

 England, show that in racing qualities they are equal. 

 At this time English horses are being constantly im- 

 ported and American thoroughbreds are raced on all 

 the courses in Europe. It is sometimes asserted that 

 the race -horse has deteriorated, but this opinion is 

 not held by intelligent breeders and turfmen. Though 

 races at distances above two miles are not now in 

 fashion, it is but a few years since the fastest four- 

 mile record was made, also the fastest for one and 

 two miles. A recent writer thus contrasts early ra- 

 cing with that of the present day. "In old times horses 

 ran seldom often not more than five or six races in 

 a year often less. The races were over longer dis- 

 tances, but they were specially prepared for them, 

 and, as handicaps were few, the best horse had a 

 pretty easy time. Besides, the number of horses was 

 small. The returns of 1880 showed six hundred and 

 forty foals. In 1900 as many as three thousand eight 

 hundred and twenty -seven were reported to the Jockey 

 Club. A good horse of today runs from fifteen to 

 thirty races in a season, meeting a large number of 

 competitors, and is asked to concede weight, and is 

 kept in training fully nine months in the year. If 



