1 6 Making the American Thoroughbred 



lished there until purchased by The Spirit of the Times in 

 1839. Both publications were conducted on the same 

 general lines. A feature of The Turf Register each month 

 was a likeness of some famous thoroughbred. Its picture 

 of Coronation, in the November number, 1841, was, the 

 Editor said, "the first perfect specimen of electrotype 

 engraving ever published in this country." It suspended 

 publication in 1844. 



The first American stud book was compiled by Patrick 

 Nisbett Edgar, of North Carolina, and printed in 1833. 

 Of necessity it was incomplete and contained many errors. 

 Before 1833, and for a long time thereafter, certificates 

 made by breeders as to the foaling and parentage of horses 

 accompanied them through each successive ownership, 

 together with such amendments as occasion demanded. 

 The Turf Register opened its columns to horse owners 

 throughout the Union and printed from first hands every 

 pedigree that it could obtain of every thoroughbred horse 

 of any consequence. Pedigrees thus presented were ex- 

 posed to the scrutiny of those who had personal knowledge 

 that enabled them to correct errors. By continuing this 

 practice throughout its existence this magazine laid up 

 priceless records in regard to American horses of that and 

 preceeding periods and became the principal source of in- 

 formation for all compilers of stud books since that time. 



The first three pages of The Spirit were usually 

 devoted to New York theatricals, the English turf and 

 literary miscellanies relating to hunting, fishing and the 

 chase; and extracts from the choicest popular literature 

 of the day such as " Pickwick Papers/' " Handy Andy," 

 etc. The rest of the paper was given up to recording cur- 

 rent events of interest to the breeding and race-loving 

 world and to advertisements now valuable for their in- 

 formation about horses and horsemen. 



