THE RACE-HOUSE. 533 



a deviation from the ordinary type of the Race-Horse, that a 

 very general opinion long prevailed on the turf that he was 

 of impure pedigree. He was a horse of immense size and 

 strength, was born in 1745, and died in 1777, at the age of 

 32. When he first appeared for trial on the turf, nothing 

 could exceed the ridicule of the jockeys at an attempt to run 

 a coach-horse, as he was called. Sampson, however, turned 

 out a racer of amazing power, and beat most of the horses 

 of the day with which he entered into contest. The pre- 

 vailing opinion of modern breeders is, that Sampson was 

 really of pure blood, and that his peculiarity of form was a 

 variety. 



The records of recognised authority with respect to the 

 pedigree of Turf-horses, are the Stud-Book and Racing 

 Calendars. These works afford every detail required re- 

 garding the horses recognised as thoroughbred. It will 

 be seen that, while the pedigree of the dam is carefully re- 

 corded, descents are reckoned by the male. The Arabs, 

 it has been said, adopt a different practice, and reckon 

 descents by the female. Either usage is founded on the 

 assumption that the virtues of the parents are reproduced in 

 the progeny. The English breeders adopt the most natural 

 course, that of reckoning by the parent whose influence is 

 the most extensive with regard to the numbers to which he 

 communicates his qualities. The practices are not essen- 

 tially different in the result ; for a male possessing certain 

 properties derives them, on the assumption of the regularity 

 of our law, from a male that has possessed the same virtues. 

 The establishment of a true system of genealogy, it is appa- 

 rent, must be founded on the derivation of both parents. 



The Race-Horse, cultivated for a peculiar purpose, pre- 

 sents the conformation of parts which adapts him to the ends 

 proposed. His height is from fifteen to sixteen hands. A 

 medium, or even a smaller size, is preferred to one exceed- 

 ing the usual standard. Few very tall racers have been re- 

 markable for their performances on the turf, while many of 



