FOREIGN HORSES ARE BROKE EARLY. 71 
others on retiring from the turf were sound as on the day of 
their birth. Now these horses had run over a hundred races 
each, besides probably an equal number of trials, and it may 
be surmised could, if required, have done as much more. 
Their retirement was simply because they were required for 
the stud or to go abroad: and if evidence were needed of their 
absolute soundness, it is found in the latter fact ; for foreigners 
seldom make the mistake of buying any but sound horses—a 
compliment we can hardly pay ourselves. 
In judging of this matter it must also be borne in mind 
that a horse that formerly ran one race a year, would in the 
present day run forty or more—doing, in fact, more in one year, 
than of old was done in a lifetime. We can judge too from 
horses imported from nearly every quarter of the globe, which 
we are told were not broke early, nor raced till late in life, 
Yet these, after receiving careful treatment in skilful hands, 
are, in comparison to our own early broke ones, deficient 
both in speed and stamina. The French horses, it is true, are 
equal to ours; but why? because they are broke and run 
early, as ours are. Whilst the instances of the American mare 
Prioress and a few other winners, are only the exceptions to 
prove my assertion. The Americans have achieved victories, 
not very many, with other horses, but in two-year-old races 
only ; and it is a notable fact that after a year's racing in this 
country, their horses changed their pristine youthful vigour 
for premature old age—Umpire to wit, who did nothing 
after that age, and there are other examples. 
At all events, we have seen nothing in any way to prove 
the advantage of late breaking; and I think the two cases I 
am about to adduce, if honestly compared with our system 
should conclusively instruct us to adhere to it. 
They are the following: The Arabs we have seen do not 
