160 TllK IIOKSK. 



is recorded to have been a "VViiitefoot mare, while of live White- 

 foot mares in the stud-book not one appears to have borne a 

 foal to Dismal, the son of Godolphin. These statements I do 

 not make invidiously, or with the intent to disparage the purity 

 of the blood of these animals — of which I have no doubt ; but 

 simply to show that the same want of absolute authenticity is 

 apparent, wlien -sve go beyond a certain date in both England 

 and America, that date being more recent in the latter country, 

 owing to the later introduction of authentic registries. 



Nor does this want of authenticity attach to pedigrees, only ; 

 or even in the greatest degree ; for it is much more apparent in 

 the traditional report of performances. 



The absurd myth of Flying Childers having run a mile in a 

 minute, still obtains — not among sportsmen, for of course there 

 is not a man, who knows \vhat a race-horse is, either in Eng- 

 land or America, at this day, who does not scoff at the palpa- 

 ble impossibility of the thing — but generally among the vulgar ; 

 although it has been made sufficiently clear that, in the only 

 recorded race of this horse, he did not exceed that of West 

 Australian in England, or of Lexington or Lecompte in this 

 country. 



As progenitors, all these horses, in both countries, may be 

 considered, then, in my view, as entities, or, if the reader prefer 

 it, facts — as performers, in view of any thing which M^e know 

 positively, or can ascertain, of their performances, I must hold 

 them myths. 



Thus, on the English Turf, while I do not dispute or doubt 

 the excellence of Flying Childers, Eegulus, Matchem, Marske, 

 O'Kelly's Eclipse, and other such — for they must have been un- 

 deniably good horses to do that, which we know they did do — 

 beat, namely, all the best horses of their respective times, at 

 all w^eights and distances — I give no credence whatsoever con- 

 cerning any particular or special performance of any one of 

 them ; and I distinctly assert my opinion, that there is nothing 

 whatever, beyond the idlest and emptiest rumor, on which to 

 found any comparison between them and the horses of to-day. 



On the English Turf, I esteem nothing positively authentic, 

 in the shape of performances — apart, I mean, from pedigrees — 

 yu'evious to the institution of the St. Leger stakes, first won by 



