64 The American Tborougbbred 



In fact, since he had the handUng of some of his 

 father-in-law's stock (Colonel Richardson), the 

 tide of fortune seemed to have set against his 

 stables. He bred the celebrated Bertrand by- 

 Sir Archy out of Eliza by Bedford, all things 

 considered, both as to his performances whilst 

 on the turf and his get, as distinguished as any 

 native stallion of the early century. He con- 

 trived to get as many winners out of all sorts 

 of mares as any other horse contemporary with 

 him, — Bascombe, Bill Austen, Bertrand Jr., Rat- 

 tlesnake, and many others too numerous to 

 mention. 



In speaking of this very remarkable horse, 

 one peculiarity of his training cannot be omitted 

 — a quality of inestimable value, and which testi- 

 fied in an especial manner to his great game and 

 endurance. This was his power of recovering 

 himself in a long race after being apparently 

 dead beat. He could make more quarter brushes 

 in a four-mile-heat race than any horse of his 

 time severely pressed in a race. It was only 

 necessary for his jockey, whenever he felt him 

 weakening, to take a strong pull upon him for 

 a few jumps, to find him not wanting as soon as 

 called upon again. Without this invincible pluck 



