PUKE BLOOD. 425 



pure as possible, yet they were originally compounded from 

 varying elements. Even the best and pnrest thoroughbreds 

 are stained with some slight imperfections, and therefore it is 

 only by comparison that the word pure is applicable to them or 

 any others. But since the thoroughbred horse, as he is called, 

 has long been bred for racing pnrposes, and selections have 

 been made with that view alone, it is reasonable to suppose 

 that this breed is the best for that purpose, and that a stain of 

 any other is a deviation from the clearest stream into one more 

 muddy, and therefore impure ; the consequence is, that the 

 animal bred from the impure source fails in some of the essen- 

 tial characteristics of the pure breed, and is in so far useless 

 for this particular object. Now, in practice this is found to be 

 the case, for in every instance it has resulted that the horse 

 bred with the slightest deviation from the sources indicated by 

 the stud-book, is unable to compete in lasting power with those 

 which are entirely of that breed. Hence it is established as a 

 rule, that for racing j)urposes every horse must be tliorough- 

 bred ; that is, as I have already explained, of a sirs and dam 

 whose names are met with in the Stud Book. 



The external form of the race-horse is of great importance ; 

 but there is no doubt that the axiom is correct, " that the horse 

 can run in all forms." The instances where this is so, however, 

 are the exceptional cases, and the rule, nevertheless, is a good 

 one, which lays down that coderis paribus, the horse will be 

 the best runner which is formed in the mould most like that of 

 the greatest number of good race-horses. Thus, supposing it is 

 found that out of 50 good horses 49 have neat heads, light necks, 

 deep chests, oblique shoulders, long racing hind-quarters, strong 

 hocks, &c., the presumption will be that a horse resembling 

 those 49 in shape will also resemble them in speed and endur- 

 ance. On the other hand, it is admitted on the turf that high- 

 breeding is of more consequence than external shape, and that 

 of two horses, one perfect in shape, but of an inferior strain of 

 blood, and the other of the most winning blood, but not so well 

 formed in shape, the latter will be the most likely to perform 

 to the satisfaction of his master on the race-course. On this 

 principle the proverb has been framed and handed down to us, 

 that " an ounce of blood is worth a pound of bone," and with 



