CHAPTER I 



THE CORNER STONE OF BREEDING 



AFTER a formal dinner on New Year's Eve the 

 guests adjourned to the library and were spinning 

 yarns over cigars. The host, reclining in a big arm- 

 chair, was absorbed in thought, but roused himself 

 and said: 



" Gentlemen, you saw Flora this afternoon and 

 noticed that she was big with promise. She is my 

 best brood mare, and I have nominated her in the 

 Produce Stake, colts to trot at two and three years 

 old. As you well know the age of a horse dates from 

 January ist, and I have planned to have the foal 

 come the second or third day of the New Year. 

 Everything is going smoothly, and, if there is no slip, 

 the foal will be well grown as a yearling, and should 

 be fleet and strong as a two-year-old. The way to 

 win rich stakes is to have early foals. The one that 

 is born May 2d, when opposed by one born January 

 2d, takes up a handicap of four months. The start 

 on the road to development will beat him if nothing 

 else does." 



" I agree with you," remarked one of the guests, 

 " but do you not risk a great deal in drawing it so 

 fine ? Suppose the foal should come before the clock 

 strikes twelve to-night? " 



i 



