42 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



Revolutionary War there was much racing in 

 Long Island as well as in Virginia and the Car- 

 olinas, but the great contests between states and 

 sections did not begin till a later date. During the 

 Revolutionary War there were few importations of 

 Thoroughbreds, but when the young country had 

 a little recovered in her industries from the effects 

 of that conflict, the importations began again and 

 in 1788 the gray stallion Messenger, the founder in 

 some measure of our trotting stock, was brought 

 out, and in 1799 the Derby winner Diomed — 

 the most important of all horses, so far as race- 

 horses in America are concerned — came out to 

 Virginia. Of Messenger, much will be said in the 

 proper place; of Diomed, here is the place to 

 speak of his record and his influence on the 

 Thoroughbreds born to America. As a race-horse 

 he was par excellence the horse of his day in 

 England, carrying practically everything before 

 him while that day lasted. But he was kept in 

 training too long — for what may be called two 

 days instead of one — and rather lost his fame 

 before he was retired to the stud. In the stud he 

 was successful, but was not fashionable, his 



