HISTOKT 



OF THE BLOOD HORSE IN NEW YORK. 



Henry W. Herbert, Esq. 



Dear Si)' / — A short time since, I received a letter from a 

 much esteemed friend — the Hon. John A. King — covering one 

 from yon to him, making inquiries in relation to blood-horses 

 and course-racing, which he seemed to think I could answer 

 better than himself. Although my pursuits may have caused me 

 to examine more critically, and think more deeply on the sub- 

 jects of inquiry, yet my ability to place on paper suitably facts 

 and ideas is so innneasnrably inferior to his, that though I may 

 possibly communicate more information, it will probably be 

 much less interesting than if furnished by his more ready and 

 gifted pen. Be this, however, as it may be, I will endeavor to 

 give such information as best I can; first premising that, 

 although particularly interested in the blood-horse, and having 

 witnessed most of the important races in this vicinity for more 

 than half a century, I have few records, except those which are 

 common to the whole country — the sporting periodicals of the 

 last thirty years. Indeed, so indefatigable have been the edi- 

 tors of those journals, that I presume the name and character of 

 every distinguished horse of the whole country may be found 

 within these pages. From these and other sources, you will 

 obtain information of many of which I know little, while I will 

 endeavor to name those, which formerly gave cliaracter to the 

 stock of the North. 



