BREEDING 277 



in the last two decades. Despair can also be quoted as 

 an average performer of anything but fashionable blood, 

 but nearly all of his stock can win races, though so far 

 none of them have attained to "classic" honours. On the 

 other hand, certain sires, certain strains of blood, and even 

 certain studs receive what seems like an undue proportion 

 of attention in the Press, in the critical columns as well 

 as in those devoted to advertisement, and the latest thing 

 we are being told is that So-and-so is sure to race because 

 his " figures " are good. But figures cannot avail much if 

 make, shape, and constitution are lacking, nor if the same 

 fault or faults are observable in both sire and dam. I had 

 some thought of criticising this " figure system " theory ; but 

 never seriously taken up by breeders, it is already a dead 

 letter, succumbing through sheer inanition. 



Various causes lead to the great competition which has 

 been in existence for some years past for yearlings at 

 auctions. For instance, an owner of experience who has 

 enjoyed a large measure of success is seen to be bidding, 

 and that is quite enough to start the millionaire. " There's 

 So-and-So bidding," he says to himself. " If it's good enough 

 for him to buy it's good enough for me." Possibly the 

 experienced owner may never have seen the animal before, 

 and may be bidding for a friend. Again, though it will 

 hardly be credited, the biddings are sometimes prompted 

 by jealousy. There was quite a notorious case some years 

 ago, when a young turfite invested thousands in yearlings 

 merely because he was determined that someone else should 

 not have them. The cleverest bidders, as a rule, are trainers 

 of standing, and when they buy on their own account a 

 beginner would do well to keep an eye on their purchases, 

 and if he finds out that they have not been bought for 

 someone else, offer him a profit on his bargains. But it has 

 always to be borne in mind that many trainers entertain 

 a good deal more prejudice than I think advisable. One 

 has a liking for a certain strain of blood which has done 

 him a good turn in the past, and is tempted to buy when 

 he sees something of the same strain offered. Another has 

 had a bad horse, or a bad-tempered one by a certain sire, 



