6 FLAT-RACING EXPLAINED. 



breeding has its linaucial asi^ect. Putting that 

 aside, if the aim and end is the production of higher 

 characteristics than we yet have in tlie thorough- 

 bred, my humble judgment goes to the point, not 

 that we shall get it by fusion on the heir-male prin- 

 ciple, nor by the peri>etuation of the best running 

 blood in combination, as I have above said. Rather 

 by the perpetuation of the best running blood on the 

 one side only, in combination with conformation on 

 the other side, tending to supply points in frame con- 

 struction either absent or requiring development, as 

 the case may be. 



As "weeds" are useless as race-horses, and it is 

 therefore ruination to breed them, however good the 

 blood may be in their veins, surely, in the absence 

 of exception to strain on special grounds, the first 

 of primary condition in the production of race-horses 

 is conformation and general racing characteristics^ — 

 in the sense that the highest running qualifications 

 should be associated with the best possible model in 

 point of frame. 



That "scientific breeding" is destined to give us 

 conformation and racing style remains to be seen, 

 but for my part I should be disposed to think the 

 proportion of horses lacking in substance, and not 

 of the wear and tear sort, will be sensibly increased. 

 As it is, in the matter of breeding there m only a low 



