EXTERNAL FORMATION. 63 



admitted on the turf, that high-breeding is of more consequence 

 than external shape, and that of two horses, one perfect in shape, 

 but of an inferior strain of blood, and the other of the most win- 

 ning blood, but not so well formed in shape, the latter will be the 

 most likely to perform to the satisfaction of his owner on the race- 

 course. On this principle the proverb has been framed and handed 

 down to us, that " an ounce of blood is worth a pound of bone," 

 and with the above explanation such is really the case. But in 

 spite of all this recognised superiority of blood, it is indisputable 

 that for the highest degree of success there must be not only high 

 purity of blood, and that of the most winning strains, but there must 

 also be a frame of the most useful character, if not always of the 

 most elegant form. Many of our very best horses have been plain, 

 and even coarse-looking — as, for instance, most of the Melbournes, 

 and especially that very fast horse. Sir Tatton Sykes ; but in spite 

 of their plainness, all their points are good and useful, and the 

 deficiency is in elegance, not in real utility. On the other hand, 

 there are some strains which unite elegance with utility, such 

 as the fast and stout Venisons, which are remarkable for their 

 beautiful frames and neat Arabian heads. But there must always 

 be a distinction made between what is really useful and what is 

 only agreeable to the eye. There are some characteristics which, 

 over and above their mechanical advantages, indicate high-breeding, 

 and as such are regarded with especial favor by purchasers. For 

 these a term has of late years been invented, the meaning of which 

 is well understood, but somewhat difficult to define. Thus, we 

 hear it often remarked, that a particular horse is deficient in "qua- 

 lity," or that he has it in perfection ; and in proportion to the one 

 or the other of these conditions is he meant to be praised or con- 

 demned. It is not simply a word synonymous with "breeding," 

 for a horse may show high breeding, and yet be deficient in "qua- 

 lity," but if with a look which convinces you that he has a pure 

 pedigree, he conjoins a perfect symmetry in all his parts, and in 

 the shapes displayed by the thorough-bred, he then comes up to 

 the description which stamps a horse in these days with the highest 

 seal of approbation, for " he has plenty of quality." 



But what is the recognised form of the racehorse ? I must here 

 explain to the tyro that the word " form" is used with two diflPerent 

 significations by racing men, and like the word " box" is very puz- 

 zling to foreigners. In the common acceptation it is synonymous 

 with " shape," and merely means the mechanical development of 

 the individual. But in the language of the turf, when we say that 

 a horse is " in form," we intend to convey to our hearers that he 

 is in high condition and fit to run. So again, the word is used in 

 still another sense, for we speak of a horse's " form" when we wish 

 to allude to his powers on the turf, as compared with other well- 



