230 THE RACEHORSE AS HE WAS AND IS. 
(named Kesder after the place he was foaled at) out of an 
English-bred mare. The Austrians thus possess the sire and 
dam of a winner of the Derby, besides many other mares and 
stallions, once our own, equally well and fashionably bred. 
Some idea of the number may be had from the fact that 
from the year 1873 to 1876 inclusive, foreign purchasers were 
found, from eighteen different countries, for 490 horses, chiefly 
brood mares and stallions, yearlings and unnamed young 
horses being reckoned in a different list, which would pro- 
bably sum to as many more, or, together, something like 
250 a year; and of the former no less than 146 went to 
France and forty-seven to Austria. 
I think, from the facts related that nothing more is wanted 
to show that our horses are better now than at any other 
period in our history ; but I cannot refrain from relating an 
incident in support of my argument, because of its special 
interest. I have already adverted to the match made between 
the Prince of Wales and Lord Strathnairn; and I may now 
add that the race itself created considerable excitement on 
account of the breed of A/ep and his unbeaten career, and 
is the more worthy of record because this one of the com- 
petitors was the first racehorse kept by royalty for many 
years. Its chief professional interest lay, of course, in the 
fact that, in the result, it determined the superiority of a 
moderately half-bred Arab crossed with English blood over a 
pure Arab, and one of the very best of his race; and this will 
be readily admitted, I should hope, as another proof of the 
superiority of our thoroughbred horses over all others, how- 
ever bred. I am corroborated in this opinion by a leading 
article in the Staxdard of July 7th, 1877, which runs thus :— 
“ Again we find that when it comes to a match between a 
pure-bred Arab and a horse with English blood in his veins, 
