558 TRANSMISSION 



generation than in the first, but also that their age is against 

 their second-generation record. 



Relation between performance and breeding powers. An at- 

 tempt was made to learn whether performers are better breeders 

 than non-performers. There were at that time 49 stallions in 

 the 2:10 list. Only 21 of these had get in the 2:30 list, and 

 only four had produced sires of speed. 



The breeding record of this class of stallions looks pitifully 

 slim as compared with that of the great breeders. The best 

 breeding record made by a horse in the 2:10 list, up to the 

 time these studies were made, was that of Nelson 4209, who 

 had produced 28-12 p., eight sires (5-7 p.), and three dams 

 (1-2 p.). The whole 49 in the 2:10 list had produced only 

 194-65 p., and only 13 sires of speed, 8 of which have just been 

 credited to Nelson. 



We might conclude that performance is not a very good index 

 of breeding power, but it would be a hasty conclusion if made 

 on this basis. Two circumstances conspire to keep down the 

 breeding record of stallions of extreme speed. One of these is 

 the fact that many of them are young, and the other is the fact 

 that a horse capable of making low records is worth more for 

 racing than for breeding purposes, and while racing engagements 

 do not absolutely prevent breeding among stallions, as it does 

 among mares until their racing days are over, 1 yet it operates 

 to greatly reduce it. Evidently we shall get little light on our 

 question from this source. 



Turning to individuals, we find that Nutwood 600, the great- 

 est sire of speed (see table on page 555), had a record of 2:18 f, 

 but that Electioneer, the next greatest sire of speed, had no 

 record. Of the " big ten," but one has a record as good as 

 2:18, and his breeding record is the lowest of the lot. 



Turning to the greatest grandsires of speed, Geo. Wilkes 

 heads the list with a record of 2:22, but Hambletonian 10 

 comes next, having produced more sires of speed than any horse 



1 There were also 49 mares in the 2:10 list, a strange coincidence, not 

 one of whom had produced anything in the list. This fact is, of course, not to be 

 construed to mean that they could not produce speed, but rather that they have 

 not, as a class, had the opportunity. What kind of brood mares they would make 

 when tried is another question. 



