RACING, OR TURF HORSES. 225 



points but blood) in the one case, a mare only has to be chosen which is 

 of good blood for racing purposes, while in the other there must be the 

 same attention paid to this particular, and also to the stallion's suitability 

 to the mare, or to " hit " with her blood. Hence, all the various theories 

 connected with generation must be investigated, in order to do justice to 

 the subject ; and the breeder rnust make up his mind whether in-and-in- 

 breeding, as a rule, is desirable or otherwise ; and if so, whether it is 

 adapted to the particular case he is considering. Most men make up 

 their minds one way or the other on this subject, and act accordingly, in 

 which decision much depends upon the prevailing fashion. The rock 

 upon which most men split is a bigoted favoritism for some particular 

 horse ; thus, one man puts all his mares to Orlando ; another, to Surplice 

 or the Flying Dutchman ; although they may every one be different in 

 blood and form to the others. Now, this cannot possibly be right if 

 there is any principle whatever in breeding ; and however good a horse 

 may be, he cannot be suited to all mares. Some, again, will say that 

 any horse will do, and that all is a lottery ; but I think I shall be able to 

 show that there is some science required to enable the breeder to draw 

 many prizes. That the system generally followed of late is a bad one, I 

 am satisfied, and with constant crossing and re-crossing it is almost a 

 lottery ; but upon proper principles, and with careful management, I am 

 tempted to believe that there would be fewer blanks than at jiresent. I 

 have already given my own theoretical views upon the case, illustrated 

 by numerous examples on both sides of the question. It will now 

 be my object to apply these views practically by selecting particular 

 instances. 



Ih choosing the particular blood which will suit any given mare, my 

 impression always would be, that it is desirable to fix upon the best strain 

 in her pedigree, if not already twice bred in-and-in, and then to put to 

 her the best stallion available of that blood. In some cases, of course, 

 it will happen that the second best strain will answer better, because 

 there happens to be a better horse of that blood to be had than of the 

 superior strain, which would otherwise be preferred. If, on the other 

 hand, the mare has already been in-bred to the extent of two degrees, 

 then a cross will be advisable ; but I am much inclined to believe, from 

 the success of certain well-known cases, that even then a cross into 

 blood already existing in the mare, but not recently in-bred nor used 

 more than once, will sometimes answer. Upon these principles I should, 

 therefore, look for success. It is surprising to me that this very common 

 occurrence of in-breedinj? amons; our best modern horses has so generallv 

 escaped observation, and the only way in which I can explain it is by 

 supposing, that having frequently been through the grandam on either 



