GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 27 



The foregoing tables show, that of these eighty-two (in 1868 

 the Two Thousand Guineas, and in 1876 the Oaks, resulted in 

 a dead heat, the stakes in each case being divided) dams of the 

 winners of these great races only eleven, or about 13 per cent., 

 had not been on the Turf, and that of the remaining seventy- 

 one tried mares only nineteen had not run as two year olds. 

 Taking, moreover, into consideration that of the mares figuring 

 iu the English Stud Book and used for stud purjjoses, those 

 without public trial are in an overwhelming majority against 

 those which have been on the Turf, it cannot be denied that the 

 chances of breeding a winner of one of the four classic races are 

 incomparably better with the latter than with the former. 



It is frequently laid down as a rule that, in order to benefit 

 the breed of horses in general, no thoroughbred animal affected 

 with hereditary defects ought to be used at the stud. It is but 

 just that those who clamor for this condition — that is, the 

 breeders of half-breds — should set the example, which, how- 

 ever, they frequently omit ; and I myself should not object to 

 adopt a similar principle for the thoroughbred. It depends 

 only on what is understood by the term hereditary defects. 

 I take weakness and infirmities of the constitution to be the 

 most hereditary defects, and believe that the ideal station on 

 which the thoroughbred would be enabled to fulfil its high 

 mission can be reached only if no unsound mares are allowed 

 to be used for stud purposes. The only practical test of sound- 

 ness of limbs, digestive organs, nerves and temper, remains — 

 until a more perfect system is discovered — the public trial on 

 the racecourse. 



A mare, which in her second and third year, when perfectly 

 well and fit, is repeatedly brought out, and honestly perseveres, 

 even if only with moderate success, may in all probability be 

 looked upon as sound, and from such sound mares, if no misfor- 

 tune intervenes, sound progeny may be expected. Exceptions to 

 this, as to any other rule, of course do occur. So may we some- 

 times see mares, after standing the wear and tear of a Turf ca- 

 reer witliout detriment to their constitution, in the end become 

 unsound dams, that is, bring unsound foals or none at all ; but in 



