THE HUNTER. 117 



a class of racehorse which is quite distinct from the thorough- 

 breds of last century. We have now horses that come quickly 

 to perfection, and as quickly pass from the Turf. At the 

 present time there are not a dozen races of any importance 

 which are run upon courses above two miles. The ordinary 

 distance is from six furlongs to one and a-half miles, and the 

 exceptions are a few welter races, which are still contested for 

 by the better class of horse. 



" The average weight which is carried, ranges from 8 stone 

 to 9 stone. In very few cases is the higher of the two limits 

 exceeded. This arrangement gives the good, bad and indif- 

 ferent horse a chance of winning ; and speed has been preferred 

 to substance. Horses are tried at two years old, and if they 

 appear to be slow they are at once cast, in order that the ex- 

 pense of further training may be saved. 



" In a controversy (which has been going on for many years) 

 it has been proved that no plan, for improvement of the stock 

 of general-utility horses, can be long maintained by using, 

 exclusively, sires reared for the Turf. Even many racing men 

 now share this conviction ; which has been to some extent 

 brought about by the fact that several of our best four-mile 

 steeplechase horses are not clean-bred ; but have other blood 

 running through their veins besides that of the thoroughbred. 

 This is the case with the following steeplechase horses of high 

 repute : Roman Oak, New Oswestry, Zoedone, St. Galmier, 

 Heather, and Marienbad. The first-named won many races 

 in 1891, and the big race (^2,000), at Manchester, in 1892. 

 In the list of Grand National winners, a large percentage will 

 be found to have what is considered to be a stain in their pedi- 

 gree. This is the case with Pathfinder (who won in 1875), 

 *with Zoedone (1883), Old Fox (1886), Gamecock (1887), 

 Frigate (1889), Ilex (1890), and Come Away (1891). The 

 Colonel (who won twice i.e., 1869 and 1870) and The Lamb 

 (who won in 1868 and 1871) both belonged to the same class. 



" At the commencement of this century, competition in 

 racing all over England, was carried out on quite different 



