Napolebn III. (1852-1870), pursuing the policy of his 

 predecessor, Louis Philippe, did his utmost to encourage the 

 "breeding of good horses. During his reign large numbers of 

 Thoroughbred stallions, always selected for their stoutness and 

 •staying power, were purchased in England ; valuable stakes 

 were offered for long races (2 miles 6 furlongs), in which 

 the horses had to carry fairly heavy weights, and four-mile 

 steeplechases at weights of from 12 to 13 stone were instituted 

 for Thoroughbred stallions. 



With the same end in view, flat races and steeplechases 

 were established for half-bred horses, and the fields that 



turned out for these have been compared to those that fac^ s^ 



the starter for Hunter stakes in England. ~^ 



The Turf in France has always been made subservient 

 to the serious national work of breeding useful horses. 

 Public money is not spent in encouraging weeds only 

 ■capable of carrying six or seven stone over a five furlong 

 ■course. 



Under the law of 29th March, 1874, the Horse- 

 Breeding establishments of France were reorganised. It 

 was then enacted that the State should purchase stallions 

 at the rate of 200 per year, until a total of 2,500 had 

 been reached. In 1892 another law was passed, sanctioning 

 a further increase in the number of State stallions by 

 annual additions of 50 per year. Finally, in 1900, a third 

 law authorised the purchase of 50 stallions a year until 

 the number owned by the State should reach a gross total 

 ■of 3>450- 



France, for stud purposes, is divided into six districts, 

 which contain 22 Government studs for stallions. At these 

 studs, on 1st January, 1905, 3,267 stallions of different breeds 

 were available for distribution among 689 local covering 

 stations for the public service. 



The Inspector-General of Horse-Breeding operations has 

 been kind enough to give me the following information as to 



23 



