48 The English Horse. 



from a mare by Ardrossan, her dam Shepherdess, by 

 Shuttle. 



Gladiateur, a bay horse, standing about i6 hands i^ 

 inch, with quite a French pedigree, but from some of 

 the best blood in England, was the first horse bred 

 abroad who won the Epsom Derby. That he was a 

 remarkable horse and a first-class racer few could be 

 found to deny ; but although possessing some splendid 

 points, that he has not that true and perfect symmetry 

 that would be desirable in a first-rate performer and 

 stud horse, is equally certain, I do not wish to cavil at 

 or even find fault with a really first-class horse because 

 he may not possess that symmetry which would be 

 thoroughly pleasing to the eye ; but at the same time, 

 had he been of truer shape, I have no doubt he would 

 have been equally good in a smaller compass, and that 

 with less of wear and tear and expenditure of power. 

 He might be classed with that fine specimen of a race- 

 horse. Bay Middleton. His head, eye, neck, and shoul- 

 ders are truly grand ; his legs are not first-rate, nor are 

 his quarters, to say the least, the handsomest. That he 

 will be a stud success I both hope and expect ; and to 

 make use of his blood to the fullest extent, and pre- 

 eminently that of his great-grandsire. Defence, I would 

 select for him certain mares whose dams were by De- 

 fence, or by horses whose dams were by Defence — such 

 as mares by Alarm and by Andovcr (if they could be 

 obtained), by Pyrrhus the First, and by Caractacus. 

 Thus, as in former days, by breeding from mares whose 

 sires were from mares by sons of Flying Childers, such 



