18 PREFACE. 



good and fast roadsters with breeding good enough for fast 

 records, yet I have never entered a horse in a trotting race for 

 money or bet on the results of a horse race in my life. 



We measure genius not merely by a man's social status but 

 by the "empire of his ideas," the results which they enforce 

 and the benefits which inure through them to the world. I 

 have had a long-cherished wish to be in some way a benefactor 

 to my country, and believe by giving to the breeding public 

 my views founded on so many years of study, observation, and 

 practical experience, I can best accomplish that end. 



I virtually commenced this book in 1866 (some 28 years 

 ago). I have been greatly assisted in this work, as to inform- 

 ation, etc., and especially as to the true pedigree of Justin 

 Morgan, by such gentlemen as the Messrs. McClellan of Wood- 

 stock, Conn, (father, uncle, and cousins of the late Gen. Geo. 

 B. McClellan), and other gentlemen of Connecticut and Massa- 

 chusetts. 



Should I attempt to narrate one-half of what has been told 

 me by such venerable horsemen, or to produce one-quarter of ' 

 my correspondence with such persons, that matter would of 

 itself make a book double the size of this ; consequently, I con- 

 fine myself to the facts gathered as being of more importance 

 to my readers than to oblige them to wade through the waters 

 that I have passed through in order to gather them. 



As to the illustrations contained herein, I have endeavored 

 to give the true likeness of a few of the most noted horses 

 mentioned, and that of myself, the author, thinking that these 

 may be both interesting and instructive to my readers ; but 

 have refrained from filling up the book with illustrations for- 

 eign to the object of the work for the sake of making an 

 unnecessarily large and high-priced book. 



I have been, too much of an investigator and too liberal in 

 my views to get rich in this world, but have endeavored to so 

 live that after my death my children might feel proud of being 

 the sons and daughters of 



JOHN DIMON. 



