Anecdotes of Former Days 243 



the sake of velocity. . . . Whoever has been curious 

 enough to examine the mechanism of different horses 

 by dissection will find the tendon of the leg in a foreign 

 horse is much larger than in any other horse, whose leg 

 is of the same dimensions. . . . How many instances have 

 we of different horses beating each other alternately over 

 different sorts of ground ! how often do we see short, close, 

 compact horses beating others of a more lengthened shape, 

 over high and hilly courses, as well as deep and slippery 

 ground. . . . And how comes it to pass that horses of a 

 more lengthened shape have a superiority over horses of a 

 shorter make, upon level and flat courses ? . . . 



" But I much fear our distinctions of good and bad 

 blood are determined with much partiality, for every 

 jockey has his particular favourite blood, of which he 

 judges from events, success, or prejudice ; else how comes 

 it to pass that we see the different opinions and fashions of 

 blood varying daily ? Nay, we see the very same blood 

 undergoing the very same fate ; this year rejected, the 

 next in the highest esteem ; or this year in high repute, 

 the next held at nothing. . . . 



"The blood is worn out for want of a proper cross, 

 one tells us, but these reasons cannot be true, because we 

 see the offspring of all crosses, and of the most ancient 

 families, occasionally triumphing over the sons of the very 

 latest comers. . . . 



" Our observation shows us that on the one hand we 

 may breed horses of foreign extraction too delicate and too 

 light for any labour, and on the other hand so coarse and 

 clumsy as to be fitter for the cart than the race. Shall 

 we then wonder that these cannot race ? . . . 



" Whilst this continues to be the rule of breeding. I 



