QUEEN'S PREMIUM SIRES. 133 



being allowed the slightest account. It is 

 not, of course, in any degree essential that 

 they should have run at all, though, as a 

 matter of fact, many of our finest premium 

 sires have been very fair performers in 

 their racing days. All experienced persons 

 know how very possible it is to have a 

 magnificent looking horse, which may yet 

 be deficient in the qualities which constitute 

 the chief value of the thoroughbred — viz., 

 stamina, stoutn,ess, and speed. A horse, 

 therefore, which has performed creditably 

 on the Turf, and particularly in races of at 

 least a mile and a half in length, has shown 

 that, at any rate, there is something in him ; 

 and, if to this capacity there be added good 

 points and approved soundness, we should 

 have a sire admirably qualified to fulfil the 

 purpose of all Queen's Plates or Premiums — 

 i.e. (to avail myself once more of the original 

 phrase), the improvement of the breed of 

 horses in this countrv. 



