64 THE RACE-HORSE. 



size, and casualties, are culled out, aud sold for what 

 they will fetch, which seldom amounts to much. 



Value of Stakes and Prizes. — Agamemnon is 

 made to say, that that man would be rich who had 

 treasures equal to the value of the prizes the horses 

 had won, which he offers to Achilles. We are 

 inclined to think, that if this King of Argos could 

 come amongst us now, he would find prizes more 

 valuable than any contended for in his time ; and 

 that sterling cash, and not " the bubble honour,"" 

 is the main object of the British sportsman on the 

 Turf. But here is the inducement to incur the 

 great expenses of a racing breeding-stud. It is 

 possible that a three-year-old colt might have won 

 last year, at three starts, the enormous sum of 

 8350 guineas.* But even this is comparatively 

 trifling when compared with the doings on the Turf 

 in the New World. A produce stakes of 5000 

 dollars each, 1000 forfeit, is to be run for over the 

 New York Union Course in 1843, for which the 

 produce of twenty-nine mares are named ; and, 

 supposing all to come to the post, the owner of 

 the winner would be entitled to receive 145,000 

 dollars ! The stakes closed in January 1839, and 

 the distance to be run is four miles. 



Colour of the Thorough-bred Horse. — The 

 beauty of forms observable in the animal system is 



* Vide Racing Calendar, 1834, for amount of the twentieth Riddles- 

 worth stakes, at Newmarket ; the Derby and Oaks, at Epsom ; and 

 the St. Leger stakes, at Doncaster. 



