STATE RIVALRY AX ADVANTAGE. 151 



were an opportunity of running them for adequate purses 

 within the limits of the State. Should the contests be 

 confined to those horses actually owned there, and after 

 a suitable lapse of time to those bred there, thoroughbred 

 stallions would be located in nearly every county. These 

 State contests, determining which was the best, would en- 

 hance the interest in the general race meetings by bring- 

 ing together the State victors, and afterwards the con- 

 queror of the West would meet the Eastern champion at 

 Saratoga, Paterson, or Westchester, the winner making 

 good his title to the premiership. 



The small amount donated by Congress would set the 

 ball in motion, not so much from the money value, as the 

 effect it would have to popularize the sport. Should the 

 Governor of Iowa say to the various smart little cities 

 within her boundaries, "I have such a sum put in my 

 hands for the encouragement of breeding a better class of 

 horses than now exist in our State. It is conceded by 

 those conversant with the matter, that the best way to 

 appropriate this sum to effect the object in view, is to 

 give it in prizes for horses running long distances. 

 Which city will build the best course, put up the neces- 

 sary buildings, and add an amount sufficient to ensure a 

 variety of races suitable for all classes, on a guarantee of 

 having it located for ten years at that place?" There 

 would be so many liberal offers that the difficulty would 

 be to discriminate between them, and select the most fa- 

 vorable; for to my knowledge there are half a dozen places 

 that would give all needed, to have two good meetings a 

 year. Confining the races for the government money to 

 horses owned in the State, would ensure the colts being 

 kept for breeding purposes; and the rivalry between those 

 determined to own the best, would lead them to select for 

 purchase animals that are ranked high in places where 

 tiio thoroughbred has been reared for long periods. It 



