THE GREAT EXPANSION OP THE '80 's 237 



as sires are line-bred in Brilliant blood to a consid- 

 erable degree. Such overwhelming evidence of the 

 high merit of the descendants of Brilliant 1899 and 

 Brilliant 1271 in the showring and the stud warrants 

 detailed consideration of these horses and of the 

 methods used in combining their blood. 



The Story of Old Brilliant.— Foaled in 1867, Bril- 

 liant 1899 was extensively used in the stud of Ernest 

 Perriot, Sr., until 1881. His greatest son, Brilliant 

 1271, was foaled in 1877. Old Brilliant begot other 

 good sires, but his greatest honors come through his 

 daughters. Four mares sired by Brilliant 1899 were 

 the dams of Seducteur 8850 (7057), Tripoli 11110 

 (20034), Marathon 11410 (10386) and Brilliant 3d 

 11116 — four of the greatest show horses and sires of 

 the breed. Imported to America in 1881 by Leonard 

 Johnson the old horse was taken directly to East 

 Castle Rock, Minn. Here he remained part of a 

 year and sired 3 purebred colts. He was sold in 

 1882 to P. C. Fockler, Independence, la. The horse 

 was 15 years old when Mr. Fockler bought him 

 for $2,000, but his vigor and vitality were such that 

 he lived to be nearly 30 years old, proving to be a 

 sure sire until near the time of his death. During, 

 the last few months of his life he became partially 

 paralyzed in his hindquarters and it was necessary 

 to call in the neighbors to help him to his feet, after 

 which he could walk around. Rather than see the 

 game old sire suffer Mr. Fockler had him killed. 



During his service in the stud at Independence 

 Brilliant 1899 was bred only to grade mares. In- 



