THE AMERICAN THOROUGH -BRED. 107 



stock took place, such judgment was employed, that 

 the best animals that could be obtained in England 

 were only introduced. Unfortunately, however, 

 racing got into bad repute, from the number of 

 mauvais sujets it attracted, and although the 

 Southern gentlemen did their utmost to cleanse 

 away the stain, the fanatical puritanical spirit of 

 many Northern States, tabooed the institution for 

 years; thus it only had a partial existence, and 

 but few horses were imported, and those always 

 to the South ; but if the number was small, the 

 selections were the more carefully made. However, 

 again a revival took place, principally at first 

 through the instrumentality of the late Mr. Atchi- 

 son Alexander, of Woodford, Kentucky, and latterly 

 through the efforts of Mr. Jerome, of New York ; 

 so that at the present date almost every State 

 boasts one or two race-courses, where as fine racing 

 can be enjoyed as at home. From an innate love 

 of the horse, I not only visited the majority of the 

 American races, but obtained the entree to many 

 of the training and breeding establishments ; thus 

 gaining opportunities of forming opinions, that 

 defective judgment alone would cause to be in- 

 correct. One only of these establishments will I 



