14 

 to raise such a breed as should be able to answer 

 the purposes required of them. 



" When armour was rendered useless by the 

 invention of fire-arms, the great horse ceased to be 

 necessary. Lighter and more active animals were 

 introduced, and here begins the era which com- 

 prehends the SECOND class of light and soft de- 

 nomination. To encourage and promote a race of 

 these horses, public rewards were given, wagers 

 allowed to be risked, and races instituted, which, 

 from the curiosity they excite, and the pleasure 

 they afford, always draw an incredible number of 

 spectators, so as almost to supply the place of an 

 Olympic triumph to the owner of the victorious 

 steed, and, from the concurrent causes, prove a 

 most powerful incitement to self interest, too 

 powerful- for the advancement of that plan which 

 they were originally intended to promote ; for, as 

 if mere speed were the only requisite in a horse, 

 all the properties and qualities have been sacrificed 

 to it ; but, losing on one hand what they gain on 

 the other, and being weakened and refined, they 

 becqrne less serviceable from the excess of the 

 very quality which is reckoned their chief recom- 

 mendation." 



It is not necessary that I should contrast the 

 thoroughbred of to-day, for racing purposes, with 

 his predecessor of the last century. They doubtless 

 have more speed in short distances, but less power 

 for carrying weight on a long course, which is 



