GENERAL INTEODUCTION. Iv 



flatter themselves that thoroughbreds have since 1689 

 increased on an average eight or nine inches (from 13-2 

 to nearly 15-3 hands), but they forget this was partly 

 due to the introduction of Arab blood, and that the size 

 of a horse is very much a question of selection, food, and 

 favorable surroundings. If the increase in size and 

 increase of speed have, as is alleged, been accompanied 

 by a diminution in the staying power and general fitness, 

 the gain can hardly be held to compensate for the loss. 

 That there has been a falling oS in the thoroughbred may 

 be inferred from " the smallness of the percentage of even 

 tolerably successful horses out of the prodigious number 

 bred at an enormous outlay."* 



Two years ago thirty-two yearlings were sold for 

 51,250 guineas. " These thirty-two yearlings are repre- 

 sented by two winners of five races, Florio Rubbatino and 

 La Reine, who have contributed about £2000 to the total 

 cost ; and there is not, as far as can be known, a single 

 one of the remaining thirty with any prospect of making 

 a race-horse. "t 



When it is remembered that in the majority of English 

 races very little staying power is now needed, the failure 

 of the thoroughbred is all the more remarkable. If it is 

 true, as many assert, that the English race-horses are, as 

 a breed, on the down grade, the time for the renewing of 

 their youth has more than come. How, it may be asked, 

 can the needful rejuvenescence be accomplished ? Careful 

 selection and careful rearing, on the lines suggested by 

 Sir Walter Gilbey, may do much to arrest further de- 

 generation ; but to secure a new lease of life — real reju- 

 venescence — there are, I believe, only two possible modes 

 of procedure. The one is the introduction of new blood, 

 the other is to induce reversion without introducing new 

 blood. As already mentioned, Millais, when he wished 

 to rejuvenate his bassets, went straight to the original 

 source of the breed, i. e. he crossed his bassets with 



* ' Race-horses,' Sir Walter Gilbey, 1S9S, p. 6. 



t Quoted from tlie Times of December 27tli, 1897, by Sir Walter 

 Gilbey, ' Race-horses,' p. 6. 



