Blood Sires. 201 



flat sides, light back-ribs, a light middle, legginess, 

 a peacock forehand, straight weak hocks, and high 

 withers, invariably denote an inability to stay. 

 Straight thighs, though they seldom get a horse well 

 up a hill, and long pasterns, are as generally an 

 indication of speed, as slanting thighs and a broad 

 chest are of the contrary, and very pretty two-year- 

 olds seldom improve on their form. We have also 

 seen many coffin-headed horses great gluttons for a 

 distance, and we do not dislike those which go wide 

 behind, though s\ich a peculiarity does not suit short 

 quick races. 



Still the types of distinguished runners vary most 

 wonderfully. Hambletonian was a very lofty lengthy 

 horse, with a fine back and big well-coupled ribs ; 

 while Priam, on the contrary, was rather light there, 

 and though a splendid animal when you stood up to 

 him, he looked remarkably narrow as you examined 

 him from behind. Glencoe and Haphazard were 

 both rather hollow-backed ; and the latter had a way 

 of poking his head straight out at exercise, which 

 made him appear one long level from his ears to his 

 tail. Surplice's fore-legs " look as if they grew out of 

 one hole" ; The Flying Dutchman was narrow and 

 light in the middle ; Blacklock had huge calf knees 

 and bad fore-legs altogether ; Voltigeur's forehand 

 is too massive ; Plenipo was as thick as a bullock ; 

 The Colonel had round heavy quarters and a general 

 lack of liberty about him ; and Violante was a great 

 fine mare who loved the A.F., while the little Meteora 

 delighted in " the Beacon." Size has, after all, not 

 much to do with success on the Turf, if a horse's 

 lungs and loins are only sound and strong, and 

 his machinery compactly placed for working. The 

 eighteen-hand Magog rolled about hopelessly from 

 distress before he had gone half a mile ; and Wild 

 Dayrell, Filho da Puta, and Birmingham, the latter 

 of whom was about sixteen-three, are the largest 



