24 HISTORY OF THE 



the best to bring it into fair discussion. The 

 great principle of the sovereign, in encouraging the 

 turf, is the establishment of a breed of horses 

 whose speed shall be as a medium of their service. 

 But the racing calendar shows that speed consti- 

 tutes the sole desideratum of the turf, and that 

 nineteen out of twenty of the horses now pro- 

 pagated for this purpose, are only capable of carry- 

 ing a feather." 



As a matter of course, as the best stakes became 

 gradually for two years old, short distances and 

 light weights became absolutely necessary, and 

 they were adopted accordingly. They have con- 

 tinued, from that period up to the present day, 

 diminishing from time to time, in proportion as 

 this deteriorating system produced its effect on 

 the qualities of our racers. 



Our present breeds of hunters, hacks, and even 

 coach horses, have derived all the benefit they were 

 capable of by the cross with the blood, and have 

 entirely escaped this defect, from the difference in 

 their early treatment ; with encreased speed, they 

 have gained a great addition of strength. 



All that is now expected of the few good two 

 years old, who pass sufficiently uninjured through 

 the ordeal of training, is to win two or three of 

 the great two or three years old stakes ; after 

 which the owners are contented with their services 

 in the stud. Few indeed are capable of doing more, 

 or possess that true conformation, which, as Osmer 



