46 THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE. 



English breeder in selecting and coupling with the best and 

 fastest for generations on generations, have accomplished more 

 in establishing this breed as it now exists, than could possibly 

 have been done by continuing the put-crosses of foreign blood, 

 and that the time is long since past when the intermingling of 

 any other blood would not prove a detriment. 



The thoroughbred horse, as now bred, is generally consid- 

 ered far superior to any branch of the Oriental horse of to-day 

 in speed, size, and substance. Our American horses are 

 largely composed of the blood of the thoroughbred ; many 

 of the best stallions and mares of England have been imported 

 to this country, and their influence is seen on every hand. It 

 enters largely into the groundwork of all our trotting strains, 

 and it is doubtful if a single great road horse or trotter has 

 been produced in this country that did not possess a share 

 of this royal blood (or its source, the Arabian) as a foundation 

 upon which the trotting superstructure has been built. There 

 exists great ignorance, even among many who are considered 

 intelligent and well-informed horsemen, as to what constitutes 

 a thoroughbred horse. 



The compiler of the " Thoroughbred Stud Book " in this 

 country admits to registry as thoroughbred all animals that 

 show an unmixed descent of five generations of pure blood. 



Among the most noted early importations of thoroughbred 

 horses from England to this country, and contributing mostly 

 to the quality and speed of American horses, may be found the 

 uames of Janus, foaled in 1746, a grandson of the Godolphin, 

 the good qualities of whose stock are said to be perpetuated to 

 this day. 



Imported Traveler, foaled in 1747, and tracing in an un- 

 broken line to the "White Turk and to Layton's Barb mare, 

 was also considered second to none in his time. He belongs to 

 the earlier importations, and is still one of the most valuable 

 landmarks in old pedigrees, and especially sd as the founder of 

 that once most popular of all breeds in America for all pur- 

 poses, — the Morgan. 



