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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
 m 
 
 
I 
 
HORSE-BREEDING 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS 
 
 BY 
 
 G. ^LEHNDORFF. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 PORTER & COATES 
 
 1887. 
 
l-7 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGK 
 
 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 IN-BREEDINGOUT-CROSSING .44 
 
NOTES 
 
 ON 
 
 BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 GENEEAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 THE principal requisite in a good racehorse is soundness, 
 again soundness, and nothing but soundness; and the object 
 of the thoroughbred is to imbue the limbs, the constitution, 
 and the nerves of the half-bred horse with that essential 
 quality, and thereby enhance its capabilities. 
 
 The thoroughbred can, however, fulfil its mission only pro- 
 vided the yearly produce be continually subjected to severe 
 trials in public. The only appropriate test, proved by the 
 experience of two centuries, is the racecourse, although its 
 adversaries oppose it as too one-sided, and propose in its 
 stead others of more or less impracticability. The last strug- 
 gle for victory, in which culminates the exertion of the race, 
 results from the co-operation of the intellectual, the physical, 
 and the mechanical qualities of the horse, the development of 
 which combined power is higher and more reliable than any 
 that can be obtained in the same animal by other means. The 
 combination of those three qualities forms the value of the 
 horse destined for fast work : the mechanical, in respect to 
 the outward shape and construction ; the physical, as regards 
 the soundness and normal development of the digestive organs 
 and motive power ; the intellectual, or the will and the energy 
 to put the other two into motion and persevere to the utmost. 
 The attained speed is not the aim, but only the gauge, of the 
 performance. 
 
 7 
 
8 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 The grand ideal principle which places this test so incom- 
 parably higher than any other based upon the individual 
 opinion of one or more judges is the absolute and blind 
 justice, personified in the inflexible winning-post, which alone 
 decides on the racecourse, and the irrefutable certainty that 
 neither fashion nor fancy, neither favor nor hatred, neither 
 personal prejudice nor time-serving frequently observable in 
 the awards at horse-shows has biassed the decision of hotly- 
 contested struggles as recorded in the Racing Calendar for the 
 space of one hundred and seventy years. This it is that gives 
 to the English thoroughbred horse a value for breeding pur- 
 poses unequalled and looked for in vain in any other species 
 of animal creation. 
 
 I apprehend great danger from the endeavor to improve 
 horse-racing like any other human institution, not without 
 its shortcomings by corrective measures, which might inter- 
 fere with that principle of blind justice ; its fundamental laws 
 would thereby become undermined, and the building, which it 
 took centuries to erect, fall to ruins. 
 
 Nothing but the framing of the racing propositions ought to 
 serve as indicator of what is required of the thoroughbred ; 
 every state in need of an efficient cavalry should be careful 
 how to place authority for that purpose in experienced hands, 
 and see it used leniently, but on clearly-established principles. 
 As for the rest, it should be left to the immutable laws of 
 Nature to gradually mould, in outward form and inward com- 
 position, that horse which best answers those requirements. 
 
 The centre of gravity in all trials of strength and endurance 
 is to be found on the racecourse : the straighter the running- 
 track the more infallible the result ; the longer and steeper the 
 gradient the severer the test. 
 
 As to the distances to be run over, I would recommend for 
 three-year-olds and upwards from one mile to two miles at the 
 scale of weights adopted in the rules of racing at present in 
 force in Prussia, which is about ten pounds above English 
 weights. 
 
 Two-year-olds should due regard being had to the time of 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 year and the state of the ground never run less than four and 
 a half nor more than seven furlongs ; shorter races ruin their 
 temper more than those over longer distances, in which the 
 pace from the beginning is not so severe nor the start of so 
 much consequence. 
 
 Whoever has had frequent opportunities for observing in a 
 racing-stable the development of two-year-old horses will, as 
 a rule, have noticed an evident change about the middle of 
 summer. They quite suddenly lose their foal-like appearance 
 and become young horses. In general this alteration takes 
 place at the same time as the shedding of the two middle teeth ; 
 all at once the youngsters are better able to resist the wear and 
 tear of training and improve as the work agrees with them. 
 Of course this change does not occur simultaneously in all two- 
 year-olds, although they may be equally well reared ; neverthe- 
 less I have noticed at this period a greater degree of evenness 
 in the development of late and earlier foals than seemed war- 
 ranted, considering the difference in their respective ages. 
 
 As, however, at midsummer the ground frequently is too 
 hard to admit of good work being done with two-y ear-olds 
 without danger to their legs, I would advocate that the princi- 
 pal races for horses of that age should not take place before the 
 autumn, when owners who have judiciously saved their young 
 animals during the summer may indemnify themselves through 
 richer prizes than were offered for competition in the earlier 
 part of the season. 
 
 In principle I do not disapprove of running two-year-olds ; 
 on the contrary, I take it, if done in moderation, to be an un- 
 erring means to ascertain the soundness of the constitution. 
 From midsummer say first of August I look upon such 
 races, according to the degree of development in the individual 
 horses, as useful ; care must, however, be taken not to overdo 
 it, especially with fillies, whose temper is more excitable than 
 that of colts. I have generally noticed that mares which cred- 
 itably stood the test of two-year-old training also proved them- 
 selves superior at the stud. Taking, for instance, the most suc- 
 cessful brood-mares during the twenty years from 1860 to 1879, 
 
10 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 that is to say, the dams of the winners of the four classic 
 races, Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, Oaks, and Leger, of 
 that period we find, upon examination of their earlier career, 
 that of those eighty, or rather eighty-two, mares two races 
 resulted in dead heats, which were not run off only thirty did 
 not run as two-year-olds. That early ripeness in a racehorse 
 may be regarded as a proof of health, even with regard to later 
 usefulness at the stud, is further corroborated by Little Lady, 
 the dam of the Two Thousand Guineas winner, Camballo, hav- 
 ing carried off the Anglesey stakes for yearlings at Shrewsbury 
 in 1859 the only race of the sort ever run. I mention this 
 circumstance, however, by no means in support of yearlings' 
 races ; on the contrary, I look upon them as senseless institu- 
 tions, which, fortunately, twenty years ago were abolished in 
 England, the only country where they ever existed. 
 
 The severe training and repeated trials of yearlings, more- 
 over, I take to be dangerous in Germany, where the winter 
 generally sets in and puts a stop to all training operations 
 about the middle of November. In England, and especially in 
 France, where, as a rule, yearlings can be tried about Christ- 
 mas-time, it may be done without detriment to their health ; 
 the more so, as in those favored climates their development is 
 less retarded by the cold, and young horses acquire earlier than 
 in Germany the power which is necessary to bear the strain of 
 training. 
 
 I consider the test by hurdle-racing, and especially by steeple- 
 chasing, rather one of acquired cleverness than of consequence 
 for breeding. The principal race across country in England, 
 the Liverpool Grand National, has repeatedly been won (for 
 instance, in 1863 by Emblem, and in the following year by her 
 own sister, Emblematic, by Teddington out of Miss Batty) by 
 animals not possessed of sufficient staying power to run a mile 
 creditably in even moderate company. This applies more par- 
 ticularly to the younger sister, Emblematic. It is not so much 
 length of distance that constitutes a criterion of endurance as 
 the pace at which it is run. In a steeplechase this is generally 
 so slow that a horse able to race half a mile is never for a mo- 
 
GENERAL, OBSERVATIONS. 11 
 
 ment extended ; if with such speed he combines a quiet temper, 
 so as not to take more out of himself than is required by his 
 rider, he may, in an ordinary race of that description, gallop 
 a long time without being distressed, and, having thus hus- 
 banded his strength, have sufficient left in him to enable him 
 to win the race. 
 
 Jumping is more a question of agility than of power, except 
 in young and unpractised horses, that tire more through their 
 awkwardness in leaping than through galloping; schooled 
 chasers, however, are required to put forth additional energy 
 only when the race is run at an inconveniently fast pace diffi- 
 cult for them to continue. 
 
 To the practised jumper, on the contrary, the leap over a 
 fence of not extraordinary proportions, if taken at a moderate 
 pace, rather affords him time to recover his breath than causes 
 the waste of additional strength. Since the speedier horse 
 jumps at a slower pace than the slower stayer in proportion 
 to their respective degrees of speed, the former, equal cleverness 
 in jumping taken for granted, must necessarily consume less 
 strength than the latter. 
 
 The steeplechase course, therefore, favors, cceteris paribus, the 
 speedy horse as compared to the slower stayer, and practice 
 daily shows us instances of horses that as non-stayers were use- 
 less on the flat become successful chasers, and, vice versd, stayers 
 on the flat which over a country fail to gain distinction. 
 
 Intending regenerators of racing on what they consider more 
 rational principles, therefore, show a lamentable ignorance of 
 the nature of the horse when advocating the adoption of the 
 steeplechase as the test by which to gauge the capabilities of 
 the thoroughbred, and would, if they succeeded in their en- 
 deavors, attain only the exact reverse of what they aim at. 
 I would recommend those who still insist that steeplechasing 
 is more reliable than racing on the flat for the purpose of 
 ascertaining power and soundness in a horse to look round the 
 large steeplechase establishments in England, France, or even 
 Germany, and examine the legs of the horses kept for that 
 kind of work. The numerous patched-up screws that run and 
 
12 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHOESES. 
 
 win races year after year would not stand for a month the 
 preparation for a flat race, much less the race itself; and, 
 finally, as to the excellence at the stud of stallions celebrated 
 as steeplechasers, experience teaches that none such exist who 
 subsequently made a name as sires of racehorses, whereas stal- 
 lions that on the turf belonged to the first class frequently sired 
 superior chasers. As a touchstone for mares intended for 
 breeding purposes, steeplechasing, independent of other con- 
 siderations, is unsuitable, inasmuch as horses are qualified for 
 such work at a more advanced age only. Whereas, therefore, 
 the brood-mare is kept from her vocation longer than is desira- 
 ble in the interest of breeding, her fitness as a matron suffers 
 proportionately by long-protracted training. 
 
 As far as I know, there is in the whole stud book not a single 
 steeplechase mare that has made for herself a great name as the 
 dam of winners on the flat. 
 
 A cardinal point, which continually maintains and regener- 
 ates the thoroughbred as a source of power and soundness, and 
 places it, with regard to certainty of propagation, far above all 
 other breeds of the equine race, is the circumstance that the 
 thoroughbred is tried before it is sent to the stud, whereas of 
 the half-bred such individuals only as are unfit for breeding 
 purposes are put to the test. Half-breds at the stud, more 
 especially stallions, from the day they are foaled to that of 
 their death, lead an existence of sluggish idleness, generation 
 after generation, without interruption. However useful cart- 
 mares may be in the plough or other kind of slow work, a half- 
 bred brood-mare is never subjected to a real trial of her capa- 
 bilities, and, as an extremely rare occurrence, such a mare 
 returns to the stud on account of an excellence accidentally 
 brought to light ; but if, however, done so, it will probably be 
 too late for any use for breeding. 
 
 What would become of the usefulness of our half-breds, what 
 of our cavalry, without a continuance of crosses with stallions 
 of pure blood, bred for stoutness and chosen on account of their 
 proper excellent qualities, so as to constantly renew the neces- 
 sary steel in the breed? 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 13 
 
 The thoroughbred is in a much lesser degree the produce of 
 any particular locality than the cart-horse or even the half- 
 bred ; it is rather one of an artificial nature, better able to 
 withstand external influences, and capable of being trans- 
 planted to all parts of the globe and continued without es- 
 sential deterioration as long as the elementary principle is not 
 lost sight of that is to say, as long as its capabilities are tried 
 in public, and as long as the best-tried animals are in prefer- 
 ence used for reproduction. The thoroughbred stands to the 
 half-bred in the same position as the plantation tree to the wild 
 tree of the forest : the former thrives in any locality where trees 
 grow ; the latter feels at home only where it first struck root, 
 for, having never been transplanted, it wants those fibres by 
 means of which to take hold of and draw sustenance from the 
 new soil. 
 
 I do not, however, mean to say that thoroughbred mares are 
 in no way influenced by translocation to other countries and 
 climates ; on the contrary, I am of opinion that greater safety 
 will be insured by breeding from mares bred at home than 
 from imported ones. I merely assert that in the thoroughbred 
 the power of resistance to local and climatic influences is in- 
 finitely higher than in the half-bred, etc. 
 
 For this reason the establishment of a stud for thoroughbreds 
 in Germany is less difficult than one intended for the baser 
 breed, provided the locality be adapted to the purpose and the 
 requisite means available. I do not mean to say that faultless 
 brood-mares of the first class are easily obtainable in England ; 
 but since the price of such mares is eventually almost unlimited 
 in comparison to what half-bred brood-mares will command in 
 the market, and as, in numerous instances, owners of eminent 
 mares which did them good service on the turf prefer breeding 
 from them in public establishments to selling them to the more 
 extensive breeder, in England the fluctuation in the thorough- 
 bred material is influenced in a higher degree by the change of 
 circumstances than that in our half-breds. The chances of a 
 foreigner making a favorable investment, therefore, rise in pro- 
 portion, provided he is at home in the Racing Calendar, the 
 
14 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 Stud Book, and last, but not least, the personal concerns of 
 English breeders. 
 
 This brings us to the practical question, What must be the 
 aim of the breeder in the selection of brood-mares ; or, as ap- 
 plied to us, what principles must guide us in the importation of 
 brood-mares from England or France, or when choosing from 
 those bred at home ? 
 
 I believe, if strictly adhered to, the following hints may be 
 depended on as offering the greatest amount of safety in the 
 choice of brood-mares : 
 
 1. To buy, without exception, mares from the best strains of 
 blood only, more regard being had to the dam even than to the 
 sire. 
 
 2. To bear in mind that a good pedigree alone is not suf- 
 ficient, because the best-bred mare may be unsound (I thought 
 that by the acquisition of the own sisters to Gladiateur and 
 Vermout, although neither had done anything remarkable on 
 the turf, I had made sure of an enormous success ; but both 
 turned out unsound and worthless at the stud) ; to be, there- 
 fore, particular to buy from the best strains of blood such 
 mares only as have 
 
 (a) Themselves exhibited some form on the turf, and only 
 on account of insufficient age not yet been tried at the 
 stud, or have 
 
 (6) Already bred winners, and thereby proved themselves 
 sound dams and fit to propagate the excellent qualities 
 of their respective families. 
 
 As a matter of course, of the mares coming within the limits 
 of the foregoing conditions the most powerful and truthfully 
 made will be preferred ; but no consideration of the exterior, 
 however prepossessing it may be, if not accompanied by those 
 requisite attributes, should be allowed to prevail for there is 
 no more baneful, no more certain, hereditary evil than un- 
 soundness especially rheumatic or scrofulous disorders. 
 
 I am well aware that with regard to No. 2, and especially 
 subdivision (a), I shall meet with vehement opposition, and 
 that a number of instances to the contrary will be cited. They 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 15 
 
 are not unknown to me, but I adhere to my opinion for the 
 following reasons: 
 
 When I require in a young mare intended for stud purposes 
 individual performances, I do not mean to say that I would not 
 buy one that had not, on a given number of occasions, been 
 first past the post. 
 
 Although I value racing form, as such, very highly, yet do 
 I consider it of still greater importance that a mare should 
 have proved, by repeated running, even if not attended by 
 eminent success, that no unsoundness of limbs, no organic dis- 
 ease or defect of temper, prevented her bearing the strain of 
 training and racing. 
 
 I know perfectly well that in numerous instances thoroughly 
 sound animals with a good temper and all the necessary qual- 
 ities for racing, through no fault of theirs, but in consequence 
 of a mere accident, have been kept from appearing in public 
 (absolute certainty in that respect can, however, only be ac- 
 quired by personal superintendence of their training) ; but 
 I know equally well that in nine cases in every ten unsound- 
 iiess, weakness, or temper has been the cause. It is advisable 
 to rely on the Kacing Calendar alone, and not believe a word 
 of the fictitious marvels told of the innumerable mares without 
 public form, and which tales are spread about by the owners of 
 those animals. If only one-tenth of them were true there 
 would have been every year at the least a dozen winners of 
 the One Thousand Guineas, the Oaks, or the Prix de Diane 
 if one accident or another had not happened. 
 
 The affirmation on the part of owners that the mare for 
 sale had never been trained, was not even broken, likewise fre- 
 quently differs from the truth, and is solely intended to make 
 the purchaser believe that she would in all probability have 
 done wonders if she had been put into training. But, in 
 reality, this ought to be considered as a drawback, as, those 
 of a few eccentric breeders excepted, nearly every thoroughbred 
 in England, if sound, well developed, and sufficiently well bred, 
 is sent to be trained ; only when too small, unsound, or cripples 
 are they thought not worth the trouble and expense, and con- 
 
16 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 sequently kept at home at grass. I am deterred by the expres- 
 sion " never been in training " or " never been broken," when 
 applied to a young mare, even more than by an injured leg, 
 which tells its own unvarnished tale of the reason of her non- 
 appearance in public. The wisest plan is to keep aloof from 
 both until they have by their progeny proved their soundness 
 as dams. 
 
 A look round the select studs of owners who breed their own 
 racehorses in England and France (Lord Falmouth, Duke of 
 Westminster, Mr. Lefevre, etc.) will show that nearly all their 
 brood-mares have themselves been winners or are the dams of 
 winners, with the exception of only now and then a mare of 
 their own breeding, or from their racing-stables, sent to the 
 stud on trial, of whose internal soundness the owner is perfectly 
 satisfied, and who has only in consequence of an accident been 
 prevented from running on the turf. Mares with high-sounding 
 pedigrees, but without any pretensions to individual goodness, 
 form the staple of a good many studs breeding for sale over 
 which a few matrons of sterling worth bought, if possible, for 
 large sums at public sales serve to throw a kind of halo. 
 Mares without fashionable pedigrees or previous excellence, 
 which in England are to be had by the dozen for less money 
 than that for which half-bred ones can be purchased on the 
 Continent, are owned by needy people, who wait for a lucky 
 chance, or by second- and third-rate breeders, who speculate on 
 selling them to the flats from abroad. 
 
 Sir Tatton Sykes, quantitatively one of the most extensive 
 breeders of modern times, sold only his colts, while he allowed 
 the fillies to grow up wild and untried, and kept those he liked 
 best to breed from. The upshot was a stupendous failure, which 
 must have ruined any man less wealthy than the Yorkshire 
 baronet. He had peculiar ideas, and, I think, believed in the 
 soundness of his principle. Had it been any one else, I should 
 have put him down as a very knowing manager ; for in a stud 
 breeding for sale a considerable saving may no doubt be 
 effected by substituting for brood-mares of well-established 
 reputation, that cannot be had without the outlay of large 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 17 
 
 sums of money, young and perfectly untried animals which 
 have cost very little to keep and nothing at all to train. The 
 only difficulty is to make the public, or even a small section of 
 it, share the apparent belief of the owner and induce them to 
 pay for the yearling colts in proportion to their credulity. 
 
 If Sir Tatton had been obliged to put all his colts into train- 
 ing, instead of disposing of them to the highest bidder, even for 
 a mere song, as was toward the end the case, he would, I am 
 convinced, in spite of his eccentric obstinacy, soon have changed 
 his mind and principle of breeding. I could continue the sub- 
 ject, and make similar remarks with regard to some studs of 
 the present day largely breeding for sale from untried mares. 
 It is thus not surprising to see such breeders on speculation 
 amongst the foremost champions of that theory. Any attempt 
 to get from the same men who invariably have a large stock 
 of rubbish on hand for sale to the unwary, stranger one of 
 those mares with racing performances (of which, as I explained 
 before, they keep a small number), will be met with the de- 
 mand of an absurd price or the stereotyped "not for sale." 
 Should, however, an exception be made and a reasonable sum 
 asked, it is ten to one that there is something wrong about the 
 mare. 
 
 On the other hand, it is evident that in England latterly 
 a wholesome reaction has commenced to prevail ; not so in 
 France, where the thoroughbred is at present in danger of 
 suffering from the pernicious wholesale production from un- 
 tried mares in studs breeding for sale. 
 
 In support of the assertions of those fanatics who ridicule 
 individual racing form as not hereditary, and look for the 
 probability of propagation of such qualities in the breed only, 
 without taking into account the propagating individual, Poca- 
 hontas (the dam of Stockwell, Rataplan, King Tom, etc.) is 
 frequently quoted as the irrefutable proof of the correctness of 
 their theory. They copy from one another, and rely on the 
 public taking as little trouble as themselves to refer to the 
 Racing Calendar for the old mare's performances. For the 
 benefit of those who not only look for examples to prove their 
 
18 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 ready-made theories, but are anxious for real facts from which 
 to draw instruction, I will detail the racing career of Pocahon- 
 tas, in order to show that she comes up to my standard of a 
 good brood-mare. Pocahontas, though she was a roarer, by 
 her racing during four seasons proved herself possessed of a 
 good constitution ; her form, moreover, was not so inferior as 
 .many pretend it to have been. If she had run in races of 
 minor importance, she would probably have had more than 
 one winning-bracket to her name. 
 
 Pocahontas, bred 1837, by Glencoe out of Marpessa (dam 
 of Jeremy Diddler and Boarding School Miss), when two years 
 old ran only in the Criterion, unplaced to Crucifix. 
 
 As a three-year-old she ran twice, also unplaced: in the 
 Oaks, won by Crucifix, and in the Goodwood Cup, won -by 
 Beggarman, in which race Lanercost was second and Hetman 
 Platoff third. 
 
 At four years of age she ran three times unplaced : in the 
 Goodwood Cup, the Cesarewitch, and the Cambridgeshire. 
 
 In the following year, at Goodwood, she won the first heat 
 of a race finally won by Currier. At Brighton she also won 
 the first heat of a race ultimately won by Miss Heathcote. She 
 made her last appearance on the turf in a mile race heats at 
 Rochester and Chatham, where in a field of nine horses she 
 won the first heat and in the other two ran second to 
 Patchwork. 
 
 To see mares celebrated on the turf like Marie Stuart, 
 Fraulein, etc. turn out indifferent at the stud may at least 
 partially be accounted for by their too arduous and too pro- 
 tracted racing careers. 
 
 Lord Falmouth's mares, whose racing careers invariably 
 close with the end of their fourth year, rarely suffer in a 
 like manner. In support of the correctness of this and other 
 assertions advanced by me, I give the list of that nobleman's 
 entire stud at Mereworth as it existed in 1880. It was com- 
 posed of the following twenty-four mares : 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 19 
 
 BKOOD MAKES AT MEKEWOETH IN 1880. 
 
 Names printed in black letters are those of winners of one or more of the four classic 
 races Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, Oaks, and St. Leger. 
 
 
 
 
 Own Performances. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Bred the 
 
 1 
 
 Name. 
 
 Pedigree. 
 
 "Vrtrt*. 
 
 a 
 
 g 
 
 * Of which 
 
 following 
 Winners. 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 Important Races. 
 
 
 1858 
 
 SlLVERHAIR.. 
 
 Bv Kingston out 
 of England's 
 Beauty (dam 
 
 1860 
 1861 
 
 1862 
 
 3 
 5 
 3 
 
 2 
 1 
 
 Eglinton Stakes. 
 
 Silvester. 
 Silver Ring. 
 Periwig. 
 
 
 
 of the win- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Garterly Bell. 
 
 
 
 ners: 
 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 
 Fetterlock. 
 
 
 
 Attraction, 
 
 
 
 
 
 Silvio. 
 
 
 
 The liake). 
 
 
 
 
 
 Apollo. 
 
 1870 
 
 SILVER RING 
 
 By Blair Athol 
 out of Silver- 
 
 1872 
 1873 
 
 7 
 7 
 
 5 
 1 
 
 Bretby Stakes. 
 
 Ringleader. 
 
 
 
 hair (dam of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 the winners: 
 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 Silvester, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Periwig, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Garterly Bell, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fetterlock, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Silvio, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Apollo). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1859 
 
 HURRICANE... 
 
 By Wild Day- 
 
 1861 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 1000 Guineas. 
 
 Stromboli. 
 
 
 
 rell out of 
 
 1862 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 
 Atlantis. 
 
 
 
 Midia (dam 
 
 1863 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Atlantic. 
 
 
 
 of the win- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cataclysm. 
 
 
 X 
 
 ners : 
 
 
 16 
 
 5 
 
 
 Whirlwind. 
 
 
 
 Cynricus, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Avalanche, 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 Tornado, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sydmonton). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1867 
 
 ATLANTIS 
 
 By Thormanby 
 out of Hurri- 
 cane (dam of 
 
 1869 
 1870 
 
 9 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 Clearwell Stakes. 
 Prendergast 
 Stakes. 
 
 Henry II. 
 
 
 
 the winners : 
 
 
 11 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 Stromboli, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Atlantic, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cataclysm, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Whirlwind). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1867 
 
 GERTRUDE.... 
 
 By Saunterer 
 
 1869 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 
 King Clovis. 
 
 
 
 out of Queen 
 
 1870 
 
 11 
 
 4 
 
 Yorkshire Oaks, 
 
 Childeric. 
 
 
 
 Bertha (dam 
 
 
 
 
 Great York- 
 
 Charibert. 
 
 
 
 of the win- 
 
 
 
 
 shire Stakes. 
 
 
 
 
 ners: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Queen's Mes- 
 
 1871 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 senger, 
 
 
 ^_^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Spinaway. 
 Wheel of For- 
 
 
 29 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 tune. 
 Great Carle). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 BROOD MARES AT MEREWORTH IN 1880 continued. 
 
 i 
 
 Name. 
 
 Pedigree. 
 
 Own Performances. 
 
 Bred the 
 following 
 Winners. 
 
 Year. 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 Of which 
 Important Kaces. 
 
 1860 
 
 Queen 
 X Bertha 
 
 By Kingston out 
 of Flax (dam 
 
 1862 
 1863 
 
 4 
 5 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 Oaks. 
 
 Gertrude. 
 Queen's Mes- 
 
 
 
 of the win- 
 
 1864 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 senger. 
 
 
 
 ners: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Spin a way. 
 
 
 
 Reginella, 
 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 
 Wheel of For- 
 
 
 
 Court Mantle, 
 
 
 
 
 
 tune. 
 
 
 
 Linsey Wool- 
 
 
 
 
 
 Great Carle. 
 
 
 
 say). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1872 
 
 Spinaway 
 
 By Macaroni 
 out of Queen 
 Bertha (dam 
 of the win- 
 
 1874 
 1875 
 
 3 
 13. 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 1000 Guineas, 
 Oaks, Nassau 
 Stakes, York- 
 
 Merr y-go- 
 Round. 
 Darnaway. 
 
 
 
 ners: 
 
 
 
 
 shire Oaks, 
 
 
 
 
 Gertrude, 
 
 
 
 
 York Cup, 
 
 
 
 
 Queen's Mes- 
 
 
 
 
 Doncaster 
 
 
 
 
 senger, 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes, Royal 
 
 
 
 
 Wheel of For- 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes, New- 
 
 
 
 
 tune, 
 
 
 
 
 Market Oaks. 
 
 
 
 
 Great Carle). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1876 
 
 Wheel of 
 
 By Adventurer, 
 
 1878 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 Richmond 
 
 
 
 Fortune 
 
 out of Queen 
 Bertha (dam 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes, Buck- 
 enham Stakes, 
 
 
 
 
 of the win- 
 
 
 
 
 Dewhurst 
 
 
 
 
 ners : 
 
 
 
 
 Plate. 
 
 
 
 
 Gertrude, 
 
 1879 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 1000 Guineas, 
 
 
 
 
 Queen's Mes- 
 senger, 
 
 
 11 
 
 10 
 
 Oaks, Prince 
 of Wales's 
 
 
 
 
 Spinawav, 
 
 Great Carle). 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes Ascot, 
 Yorkshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Oaks. 
 
 
 1865 
 
 LADY COVEN- 
 TRY 
 
 By Thormanby 
 out of Lady 
 
 1867 
 1868 
 
 1 
 6 
 
 "i 
 
 
 Peeping Tom. 
 Yorkshire 
 
 
 
 Eoden (dam 
 
 
 
 
 _ 
 
 
 Bride. 
 
 
 
 of the win- 
 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 
 Farnese. 
 
 
 
 ners: 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lady Golight- 
 
 
 
 Ma Belle, 
 
 
 
 
 
 ly. 
 
 
 
 Liddington, 
 
 
 
 
 
 Placentia. 
 
 
 
 Mirella), by 
 
 
 
 
 
 Earl Godwin. 
 
 
 
 West Australian 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 out 'of Saun- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 terer and Loi- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 terer's dam. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1875 
 
 LADY OF 
 
 By Blair Athol 
 
 1877 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 MERCIA 
 
 out of Lady 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Coventry 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (dam of the 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 winners : 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Peeping Tom, 
 Yorkshire Bride 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Farnese, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lady Golightly, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Placentia, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Earl Godwin). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 21 
 
 BROOD MARES AT MEREWORTH IN 1880 continued. 
 
 I 
 
 Name. 
 
 Pedigree. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Own Performances. 
 
 Bred the 
 following 
 Winners. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Of which 
 Important Races. 
 
 1874 
 
 LADY GO- 
 LIGHTLY 
 
 By King Tom 
 out of Lady 
 
 1876 
 1877 
 
 8 
 15 
 
 5 
 10 
 
 Champagne 
 
 Stakes. 
 
 
 
 
 Coventry (dam 
 of the win- 
 
 
 
 
 Nassau Stakes, 
 Yorkshire 
 
 
 
 
 ners: 
 
 
 
 
 Oaks, Great 
 
 
 
 
 Peeping Tom, 
 Yorkshire Bride, 
 
 
 
 
 Yorkshire 
 Stakes, Don- 
 
 
 
 
 Faruese, 
 
 
 
 
 caster Stakes, 
 
 
 
 
 Placentia, 
 
 
 
 
 Newmarket 
 
 
 
 
 Earl Godwin). 
 
 
 
 
 Oaks, New- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 market Derby, 
 
 
 
 
 
 1878 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 11. in St. Leger. 
 York Cup. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 1876 
 
 PLACENTIA ... 
 
 By Parmesan out 
 
 1878 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 of Lady Cov- 
 
 1879 
 
 2 
 
 ... 
 
 
 
 
 
 entry (dam of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 the winners: 
 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Peeping Tom. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yorkshire Bride, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Farnese, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lady Golightly, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Earl Godwin). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1867 
 
 WHEAT-EAR.. 
 
 By Young Mel- 
 bourne out of 
 
 1869 
 1870 
 
 6 
 9 
 
 3 
 4 
 
 Ascot Biennial. 
 
 Skylark. 
 Fieldfare. 
 
 
 
 Swallow (own 
 sister to Stil- 
 ton and dam 
 
 1871 
 
 4 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 Newmarket Bi- 
 ennial. 
 
 Redwing. 
 Leap- Year. 
 
 
 
 of the win- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ners: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Whitebait, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lady Bugle Eye, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nightjar, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ortolan, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Germania 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Merlin). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1874 
 
 KITTY 
 
 By Rosicrucian 
 
 1876 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 SPRIGHTLY 
 
 or Young 
 Dutchman 
 
 1877 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 out of Nike 
 
 
 16 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 (dam of the 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 winners: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Juvenis, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dreadnought, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hydromel, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Adjutant, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Spring Captain, 
 Best and Brav- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 est, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Britomartis). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 BROOD MARES AT MEREWORTH IN 1880 -continued. 
 
 i 
 
 Name. 
 
 Pedigree. 
 
 Own Performances. 
 
 Bred the 
 following 
 Winners. 
 
 Year. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Of which 
 Important Races. 
 
 1875 
 
 KEDWING 
 
 By Blair Athol 
 
 1877 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 Hurstbourne 
 
 
 
 
 out of Wheat- 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes, Astley 
 
 
 
 
 ear (dam of 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes, Conviv- 
 
 
 
 
 the winners : 
 
 
 
 
 ial Stakes. 
 
 
 
 
 Skylark, 
 
 1878 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 Coronation 
 
 
 
 
 Fieldfare, 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes. 
 
 
 
 
 Leap-Year). 
 
 
 15 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 1876 
 
 LEAP- YEAR .. 
 
 By Kingcraft 
 
 1878 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 C hesterfield 
 
 
 
 
 out of Wheat- 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes, Pren- 
 
 
 
 
 ear (dam of 
 the winners : 
 Skylark, " 
 
 1879 
 
 5 
 
 ~ 
 
 dergast Stakes. 
 
 
 
 
 Fieldfare, 
 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 Redwing). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1864 
 
 NIKE 
 
 By Orlando out 
 of Ayacanora 
 (dam of the 
 
 1866 
 1867 
 1868 
 
 11 
 9 
 6 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 
 Juvenis. 
 Dreadnought. 
 Kitty 
 
 
 
 winners : 
 Cachuca, 
 
 
 26 
 
 9 
 
 
 Sprightly. 
 Hvdromel. 
 
 
 
 Chattanooga, 
 
 
 
 
 
 Adjutant. 
 
 
 
 Cestus), by Bird- 
 catcher out of 
 
 
 
 
 
 Spring Cap- 
 tain. 
 
 
 
 Pocahontas. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Best and 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Bravest. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Britomartis. 
 
 1869 
 
 LILIAN 
 
 By Wingrave 
 
 1871 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 out of Lady 
 
 1872 
 
 14 
 
 7 
 
 Newmarket 
 
 
 
 
 Blanche (dam 
 
 
 
 
 Oaks. 
 
 
 
 
 of the win- 
 
 1873 
 
 17 
 
 3 
 
 Brighton Stakes. 
 
 
 
 
 ners: 
 Miss Gratwicke, 
 
 1874 
 
 32 
 
 21 
 
 Brighton Cup, 
 Warwick Cup. 
 
 
 
 
 Parmesina, 
 
 1875 
 
 17 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 Zee), by Vol- 
 
 1876 
 
 19 
 
 5 
 
 Great Ebor 
 
 
 
 
 tigeur. 
 
 
 
 
 Handicap. 
 
 
 
 
 
 1877 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 109 
 
 46 
 
 and 29 Queen's 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Plates. 
 
 
 1870 
 
 CANTINIBEE. 
 
 By Stockwell 
 outofCantine 
 
 1872 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 Woodcote Stakes, 
 Ascot Biennial, 
 
 Forager. 
 Bal-Gal. 
 
 
 
 (dam of the 
 
 
 
 
 Hurstbourne 
 
 Dutch Oren. 
 
 
 
 winners : 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes, Ches- 
 
 
 
 
 Picnic, 
 
 
 
 
 terfield Stakes, 
 
 
 
 
 Aventuriere),by 
 
 
 
 
 Lavant Stakes, 
 
 
 
 
 Orlando out 
 
 
 
 
 Fiudon Stakes. 
 
 
 
 
 of Vivan- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 diere (own 
 sister to Vol- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 tigeur). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 23 
 
 BROOD MARES AT MEREWORTH IN 1880 continued. 
 
 
 
 
 Own Performances. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Bred the 
 
 I 
 
 Name. 
 
 Pedigree. 
 
 Year. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Of which 
 Important Races. 
 
 following 
 Winners. 
 
 1868 
 
 CHE vi- 
 
 By Stockwell 
 
 1879 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 
 Jannette. 
 
 
 S AUNCE 
 
 out of Para- 
 
 
 
 
 
 Muriel. 
 
 
 (owu sister 
 
 digm (dam of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 to Lord 
 
 the winners : 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lyon and 
 Achieve- 
 
 King at Arms, 
 Man at Arms, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ment) 
 
 Rouge Dragon, 
 Blue Mantle, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Gardevisure, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lord Lyon, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Achievement, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Paraffin). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1875 
 
 Jannette 
 
 By Lord Clifden 
 
 1877 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 Criterion Stakes, 
 
 
 
 
 out of Chevi- 
 
 
 
 
 Richmond 
 
 
 
 
 saunce (own 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes, Clear- 
 
 
 
 
 sister to Lord 
 
 
 
 
 well Stakes, 
 
 
 
 
 Lyon and 
 Achievement. 
 
 1878 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 Bretby Stakes. 
 Oaks, Midsum- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 mer Stakes, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yorkshire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Oaks.St.Leger, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Park Hill 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Stakes, Cham- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 pion Stakes, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Newmarket 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Oaks. 
 
 
 
 
 
 1879 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 Jockey Club Cup. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 1870 
 
 CECILIA 
 
 By Blair Athol 
 
 1872 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 Olivette. 
 
 
 
 out of Siberia 
 
 1873 
 
 6 
 
 "2 
 
 1000 Guineas. 
 
 
 
 
 (winner of the 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1000 Guineas, 
 
 
 11 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 and dam of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 the winners: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Patriarch, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dandelion). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1874 
 
 MAVIS 
 
 By Macaroni out 
 
 1876 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 
 Gaillard. 
 
 
 
 of Merlette, 
 
 1877 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 by The Baron 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 out of Cuc- 
 
 
 15 
 
 ~3 
 
 
 
 
 
 koo. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1874 
 
 PALMFLOWER 
 
 By The Palmer 
 
 1876 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 
 Hurstbourne 
 
 
 
 
 out of Jenny 
 
 1877 
 
 4 
 
 
 Stakes. 
 
 
 
 
 Diver (dam of 
 
 1878 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 the winners : 
 
 
 
 111 
 
 
 
 
 
 Oasis, 
 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jenny Howlet), 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 by Buccaneer. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 On examination of the foregoing table of the twenty-four 
 matrons, of which that celebrated stud is composed, it will be 
 seen that 
 
 1. It contains not a single mare that has riot been on the 
 
 Turf, and only one (Lady of Mercia) that has not won 
 a race. She was the best-tried yearling in the stable and 
 of enormous size, but she caught influenza, and became a 
 roarer. Further, that 
 
 2. There is not one amongst them that did not run at two 
 
 years of age, or 
 
 3. Remained on the Turf longer than four years old, except 
 
 Lilian, who during her racing career belonged to Mr. 
 Savile, and was not purchased by Lord Falmouth till 
 after its close; or 
 
 4. Whose dam had not bred other winners besides herself. 
 
 It may be said that breeding from tried and successful mares 
 is only a hobby of Lord Falmouth's, and that the same result 
 might be obtained by other means. It is difficult to deny this 
 with absolute certainty. The following tables, showing the 
 performances of the dams of the winners of the four classic 
 races Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, Oaks and St. Leger 
 for the twenty years from 1860 to 1879, compiled for that pur- 
 pose, however, will at least prove that a greater probability of 
 success is secured by acting on that principle. 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 25 
 
 TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS. 
 
 
 
 Dam of 
 
 Winner. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Et 
 
 in. 
 
 
 
 
 Name. 
 
 2 years 
 old. 
 
 3 years 
 and up- 
 wards. 
 
 Won. 
 
 I860 
 
 The Wizard 
 
 The Cure mare 
 
 
 
 
 1861 
 
 
 Equation . 
 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 1862 
 
 The Marquis 
 
 Cinizelli 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 1863 
 
 
 Jocose 
 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 1864 
 
 General Peel 
 
 Orlando mare . 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1865 
 
 
 Miss Gladiator 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 1866 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1867 
 
 
 Palm 
 
 8 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 Besika 
 
 7 , 
 
 - 26 
 
 7 
 
 1868 
 
 
 Eller 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 Pretender. ..:.... 
 
 Ferina 
 
 
 
 
 1870 
 
 
 Necklace 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 1871 
 
 Bothwell 
 
 Katherine Logie .... 
 
 
 
 
 
 1872 
 1873 
 1874 
 
 Prince Charlie 
 Gang Forward 
 Atlantic 
 
 Eastern Princess .... 
 Lady Mary 
 Hurricane 
 
 6 
 4 
 
 36 
 12 
 
 7 
 5 
 
 1875 
 
 < 'amballo 
 
 Little Lady 
 
 18* 
 
 17 
 
 16 
 
 1876 
 
 Petrarch 
 
 Laura . . . 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 1877 
 
 Chamant 
 
 Araucaria 
 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 1878 
 
 
 Lady Audley 
 
 
 
 
 1879 
 
 Charibert . 
 
 Gertrude . '. 
 
 8 
 
 21 
 
 8 
 
 DEKBY. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Winner. 
 
 Dam of Winner. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Kan. 
 
 Won. 
 
 2 years 
 old. 
 
 3 years 
 and up- 
 wards. 
 
 1860 
 1861 
 1862 
 1863 
 1864 
 186o 
 1866 
 1867 
 1868 
 1869 
 1870 
 1871 
 1872 
 1873 
 1874 
 1875 
 1876 
 1877 
 1878 
 1879 
 
 Thormanby 
 
 Alice Hawthorn .... 
 Hybla 
 
 3 
 1 
 11 
 
 2 
 6 
 1 
 
 8 
 5 
 4 
 
 8 
 8 
 5 
 3 
 1 
 6 
 
 68 
 
 4 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 4 
 14 
 1 
 7 
 13 
 8 
 1 
 
 49* 
 
 2 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 5 
 1 
 2 
 4 
 3 
 1 
 
 Kettledrum 
 
 Caractacus 
 Macaroni 
 
 Defenceless . .... 
 
 Jocose 
 Blink Bonny 
 
 Blair Athol 
 Gladiateur 
 
 Miss Gladiator 
 
 Lord Lyon 
 
 Paradigm 
 
 Hermit 
 
 
 
 Bas Bleu . . . 
 
 Pretender 
 Kingcraft 
 
 Ferina 
 
 
 Favonius 
 
 Zephyr 
 Rigolboche 
 
 Cremorne 
 Don caster 
 
 Marigold 
 
 George Frederick .... 
 Galopin . . . 
 
 Princess of Wales . . . 
 Flying Duchess .... 
 Mineral 
 
 Kisber 
 
 Silvio 
 
 Silverhair . . . 
 
 Sefton 
 
 Liverpool's dam .... 
 
 Sir Bevys 
 
 
 
 * Of which once as a yearling. 
 
26 
 
 NOTES ON BREEDING KACEHOESES. 
 
 OAKS. 
 
 
 
 Dana of " 
 
 Winner. 
 
 
 
 Year 
 
 Winner 
 
 
 Ba 
 
 n. ] 
 
 
 
 
 Name. 
 
 2 years 
 old. 
 
 o years 
 and up- 
 wards. 
 
 Won 
 
 1860 
 
 Butterfly 
 
 Catherine 
 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 
 1861 
 
 Brown Duchess 
 
 Espoir . 
 
 5 
 
 14 
 
 14 
 
 1862 
 
 Feu de Joie 
 
 Jeu d'Esprit . 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 1863 
 
 
 Flax 
 
 
 
 
 1864 
 
 Fille de 1'Air 
 
 Pauline 
 
 
 
 
 1865 
 
 Regalia 
 
 The Gem 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 1866 
 
 
 Torment . . 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 g 
 
 1867 
 
 Hippia 
 
 Daughter of the Star 
 
 3 
 
 16 
 
 5 
 
 1868 
 
 
 Eller 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 Brigantine 
 
 Lady Macdonald 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 1870 
 
 Gamos 
 
 Bess Lyon 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 1871 
 
 
 Mentmore Lass 
 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 1872 
 
 Heine 
 
 Fille de 1'Air 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 1873 
 1874* 
 
 Marie Stuart 
 
 Morgan la Faye . 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1875 
 
 Spinaway 
 
 Queen Bertha 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 
 f Enguerrande 
 
 Deliane 
 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1876 
 
 1 Camelia 
 
 Araucaria 
 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 1877 
 
 Placida . . . 
 
 Pietas (late Faith) 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 
 5 
 
 1878 
 
 Jannette 
 
 Chevisaunce 
 
 6 
 
 
 1 
 
 1879 
 
 Wheel of Fortune . . . 
 
 Queen Bertha 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ST. LEGEK. 
 
 
 
 Dam of 
 
 Winner. 
 
 
 
 Vwir 
 
 Winner 
 
 
 Ra 
 
 n. 
 
 
 
 
 Name. 
 
 2 years 
 old. 
 
 3 years 
 and up- 
 wards. 
 
 Won. 
 
 1860 
 
 St Albans 
 
 Bribery 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 1861 
 
 Caller Ou 
 
 Haricot 
 
 
 40 
 
 18 
 
 1862 
 
 The Marquis .... 
 
 Cinizelli 
 
 _ 
 
 3 
 
 
 1863 
 
 Lord Clifdeii 
 
 The Slave . . . 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 18fi4 
 
 Blair Athol 
 
 Blink Bonny 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 14 
 
 1865 
 
 Gladiateur . . 
 
 Miss Gladiator 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 1866 
 
 Lord Lyon 
 
 Paradigm 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 18fi7 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1868 
 
 
 Eller 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 Pero Gomez 
 
 Salamanca 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1870 
 
 Hawthornden .... 
 
 Bonny Blink 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1871 
 
 Hannah 
 
 Mentmore Lass .... 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 1872 
 
 Wenlock 
 
 Mineral 
 
 5 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 1873 
 
 1874 
 
 Marie Stuart 
 
 Morgan la Faye .... 
 Mandragora . . 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1875 
 
 
 Miss Roland 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 10- 
 
 1876 
 
 Petrarch 
 
 Laura 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 2- 
 
 1877 
 
 Silvio 
 
 Silverhair 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 1878 
 
 Jannette 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 1 
 
 1879 
 
 Rayon d'Or 
 
 Araucaria 
 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 27 
 
 The foregoing tables show, that of these eighty-two (in 1868 
 the Two Thousand Guineas, and in 1876 the Oaks, resulted in 
 a dead heat, the stakes in each case being divided) dams of the 
 winners of these great races only eleven, or about 13 per cent., 
 had not been on the Turf, and that of the remaining seventy- 
 one tried mares only nineteen had not run as two year olds. 
 Taking, moreover, into consideration that of the mares figuring 
 in the English Stud Book and used* for stud purposes, those 
 without public trial are in an overwhelming majority against 
 those which have been on the Turf, it cannot be denied that the 
 chances of breeding a winner of one of the four classic races are 
 incomparably better with the latter than with the former. 
 
 It is frequently laid down as a rule that, in order to benefit 
 the breed of horses in general, no thoroughbred animal affected 
 with hereditary defects ought to be used at the stud. It is but 
 just that those who clamor for this condition that is, the 
 breeders of half-breds should set the example, which, how- 
 ever, they frequently omit ; and I myself should not object to 
 adopt a similar principle for the thoroughbred. It depends 
 only on what is understood by the term hereditary defects. 
 I take weakness and infirmities of the constitution to be the 
 most hereditary defects, and believe that the ideal station on 
 which the thoroughbred would be enabled to fulfil its high 
 mission can be reached only if no unsound mares are allowed 
 to be used for stud purposes. The only practical test of sound- 
 ness of limbs, digestive organs, nerves and temper, remains 
 until a more perfect system is discovered the public trial on 
 the racecourse. 
 
 A mare, which in her second and third year, when perfectly 
 well and fit, is repeatedly brought out, and honestly perseveres, 
 even if only with moderate success, may in all probability be 
 looked upon as sound, and from such sound mares, if no misfor- 
 tune intervenes, sound progeny may be expected. Exceptions to 
 this, as to any other rule, of course do occur. So may we some- 
 times see mares, after standing the wear and tear of a Turf ca- 
 reer without detriment to their constitution, in the end become 
 unsound dams, that is, bring unsound foals or none at all ; but in 
 
28 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHOKSES. 
 
 that case it is generally in consequence of being kept too long 
 on the turf; for mares like Alice Hawthorn and Beeswing to 
 
 O* 
 
 race till their eighth and ninth year and then bring sound 
 foals, adapted for racing, are rare exceptions indeed. I do not 
 like to buy mares that remained on the turf longer than, at 
 the most, their fifth year. 
 
 The animal living in a primitive state, and acknowledging 
 Dame Nature as the only authority with regard to its sexual 
 instincts, satisfies the longing as soon as it makes itself felt. 
 There is not much difference in our domestic animals, such as 
 cattle, sheep, pigs ; with them but a comparatively short time 
 passes between the desire being awakened and appeased. In the 
 young mare only that satisfaction is postponed from month to 
 month, from year to year, until hysterics and similar disorders 
 ultimately culminate in absolute sterility, consequences easy of 
 comprehension, if it is taken into consideration that nature de- 
 nied to the mare that salutary cleansing process, menstruation. 
 
 For this reason I prefer for stud purposes mares which 
 during the period of training are never in use. I have fre- 
 quently known such mares, of which on that very account fears 
 of perfect uselessness for breeding purposes were entertained, 
 on being sent to the stud, take the horse at the proper moment, 
 be stinted the first or second time of covering, and retain this 
 very valuable habit during the whole of their stud career. 
 
 I am well aware that it would be as difficult to carry out 
 the exclusion from the stud of every untried or unsound mare, 
 as it is to prevent others affected with visible defects or imper- 
 fections being used. I merely mean to say that the breeding 
 from so many untried or unsound mares is the principal ob- 
 stacle to the complete attainment by the thoroughbred horse 
 of its ideal destination. 
 
 The buying of brood mares, if pursued not only with the pos- 
 sibility, but the probability also of success, is indeed no easy 
 task. By deducting all mares which never showed any racing 
 form, nor ever bred a winner, the sum of those remaining avail- 
 able will be reduced by 90 per cent, on those offered. This, 
 however, by no means guards against bitter disappointment; 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 29 
 
 and in order to insure the greatest possible safety in choosing 
 from among the so reduced number, the intending purchaser 
 will do well to pay particular attention to the following 
 points : 
 
 1. With young mares, to be careful that habitually they be 
 
 neither too gross nor too poor ; either extreme is inim- 
 ical to a healthy progeny. 
 
 2. If dam and granddam have bred other winners, it will 
 
 greatly enhance the value of the mare under inspec- 
 tion ; the more superior, and especially sound, race- 
 horses amongst her immediate relations the better. Is 
 she, on the contrary, of a great number of brothers and 
 sisters the only good performer, her acquisition will by 
 no means be so desirable as at first sight her individual 
 excellence seemed to warrant. 
 
 3. The peculiarities or weaknesses with regard to temper, 
 
 organs of respiration and digestion, feet, bad habits, 
 such as wind-sucking or crib-biting, nerves, etc., should 
 be taken into account ; likewise the strong or weak 
 points which characterize the respective families must 
 not be overlooked. 
 
 4. Before buying mares which have already bred foals, one 
 
 should be satisfied as to the state of the sheath. From 
 outward signs of rupture or a blubbering noise in trot 
 or canter, may be inferred rupture or extension in its in- 
 ternal parts. I cannot too energetically caution against 
 the purchase of such a mare ; she would be too dear at 
 any price. 
 
 5. An examination of the udder should not be omitted, its 
 
 development, and whether on both sides equally prac- 
 ticable. The state of nurture of the last foal will show 
 what nourishment it received from its dam ; in whole- 
 some mother's milk frequently lies the decision of the 
 whole question whether a foal will grow into a race- 
 horse or become a miserable weakling. Insignificant 
 foals frequently develop with incredible rapidity at 
 
30 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 foot of a dam with exceptionally good milk, as other 
 mares will, season after season, throw magnificent foals, 
 Which during suckling time collapse^and melt away like 
 butter in the sun. It is advisable to take away from 
 such dams the foals soon after they are dropped, and 
 get nurses for them if they are to be had.* 
 
 6. It is better to abstain from purchasing mares which, ac- 
 
 cording to the Stud Book, have repeatedly slipped their 
 foals, frequently remained barren, or bred twins. 
 
 7. The first requisite in a mare is that she should be long, 
 
 deep, and roomy, in order to afford the foal sufficient 
 space for its development ; leggy and short mares can- 
 not be expected to throw big foals. Many imperfec- 
 tions may be overlooked rather than these two. 
 
 8. I do not like in a brood mare a too luxuriant growth of 
 
 hair, nor, especially, tails full and bushy at the root. 
 Foals from mares, and stallions, too, thus affected, are 
 generally wanting in energy and quality. A rat tail 
 is a great eyesore ; but how rare is a bad horse with 
 a rat tail? 
 
 9. From a sharply-marked expression in muscles and limbs 
 
 in every animal, from which it is intended to breed, 
 may be inferred that its progeny will be similarly dis- 
 tinguished. The generic character, especially, must be 
 unmistakably expressed in either sex. I dislike mares 
 resembling in shape and manners stallions as much as 
 I do entire horses, a minute inspection of which is 
 necessary to convince one that they are not mares or 
 
 * Particularly sensitive inares will not easily submit to the exchange, 
 but with the necessary precaution and patience it generally succeeds. 
 The mare knows her foal by the smell principally, as may be ascertained 
 when collected in greater numbers. A little aniseed oil rubbed into the 
 coats of the foals to be exchanged, for a few days, until the mares have 
 got accustomed to it, prepares the deception. The mares are then re- 
 moved from their boxes for a time sufficient to allow the pressure of the 
 milk in the udder to become inconvenient, when, the foals being ex- 
 changed in the meantime, the mares are brought back, and the impo- 
 sition is accomplished. 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 31 
 
 geldings. The more quality the mare possesses, the 
 more marked must be the expression of her sex. The 
 charm of feminity, if I may say so, ought to pervade 
 her whole appearance. 
 
 To enumerate every possible rock on which the purchaser of 
 brood mares may get wrecked is almost impossible. It requires 
 the practical eye of the breeder, experienced in all the difficul- 
 ties besetting his calling, to detect them and to protect him 
 from its danger. 
 
 I do not venture even approximately to determine at what 
 age the brood N mare attains the climax of her propagating 
 power. The most celebrated of their kind exhibit in this re- 
 spect the greatest varieties, although a certain distrust against 
 the produce of very old mares may appear justified. But even 
 here exceptions are not wanting : for instance, Araucaria, dam 
 of Stephanotis, Wellingtonia, Catalpa, Camelia, Chamant, and 
 Rayon d'Or, was bred in Pocahontas, her dam's twenty-fifth 
 year, whereas Pocahontas was Marpessa's first foal, the latter 
 also being the first foal of Clare. On the other hand, it is sur- 
 prising that of the winners of the four classic races few were 
 first foals ; of the Derby during a century only three 1795, 
 Spread Eagle ; 1852, Daniel o'Rourke ; and 1855, Wild Day- 
 rell. A singular fact, also, is that the Two Thousand Guineas 
 in 1823 was won by one of twins, Nicolo, by Selim. 
 
 Of all the celebrated matrons in the Stud Book, Queen Mary 
 and Haricot, her daughter, stand forth as descended from dams 
 of the most tender age. The mare by Plenipotentiary out of 
 Myrrha, by Whalebone, foaled in 1840, was covered when not 
 more than two years old, and bred in 1843 the famous Queen 
 Mary, who, after running but once as a two-year-old, was dis- 
 abled by an accident. She was covered when three years of 
 age, and bred in the year following Haricot. In those two 
 mares, Queen Mary and her dam, early impregnation seems to 
 have been attended with unusual individual potency. 
 
 In general, let the breeder of thoroughbreds never adopt the 
 principle that quantity better than quality will succeed. 
 
32 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 Breeding can be profitable only when in conjunction with the 
 very best material obtainable, and when in the produce nothing 
 is spared to contribute to success. Although a few isolated in- 
 stances, like the late Mr. W. Blenkiron, of Middle Park and 
 Waltham Cross, have of late years proved that wholesale pro- 
 duction of the thoroughbred may pay, yet I am doubtful 
 whether Mr. Blenkiron did not die at precisely the right mo- 
 ment, and whether, without the enormous prices realized after 
 his death at the sale of his too numerous stud, the business 
 would ever again have been able to show an equally favorable 
 balance-sheet. Mr. Blenkiron was an unusually clever man- 
 ager ; he had closely studied and completely grasped the differ- 
 ent phases of the thoroughbred market. On the one side 
 breeding from a lot of untried mares, he at public auctions 
 occasionally threw away, apparently without an object, large 
 sums of money, but in reality in order to strengthen in the 
 public the conviction that he was concentrating in Middle Park 
 the quintessence of the English Stud Book, and to familiarize 
 purchasers with the idea of the vastly enhanced value of the 
 best class of its produce. The actual successes of the latter, 
 independent of the prices realized at the sale, however, were, 
 in comparison to the quantity, but moderate, and would, if all 
 the horses bred by Mr. Blenkiron had been trained and raced 
 for his .own account, unquestionably have ended in his ruin. 
 
 As it is not likely that there will ever again be, in Europe at 
 least, so large a breeding establishment as that sold at Middle 
 Park in 1872, it may be in the interest of the history of the 
 thoroughbred that the figures of that ever memorable sale be 
 not lost in oblivion. I therefore recapitulate them in this place. 
 
 During six days in the months of June and July of that 
 year, Messrs. Tattersall sold in the Middle Park Paddocks 
 
 Brood mares 198 
 
 Foals 119 
 
 Stallions (including Blair Athol for 12,500 gs., Breadal- 
 
 bane 6000 gs., Gladiateur 7000 gs.) 12 
 
 Yearlings 101 
 
 430 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 33 
 
 for the sum of 130,704 so vs., or at an average of nearly 304 
 so vs. 
 
 In half-breds the profit to be obtained from individual ani- 
 mals is narrowly limited. A numerical extension, therefore, 
 may help to distribute the general expenditure over' a greater 
 number, and thereby reduce the average cost. In the thorough-, 
 bred, on the other hand, the value of a successful brood mare i$ 
 almost illimitable, and repays maifold for years of fruitless 
 labor. The late Mr. W. I'Anson grew rich by the sale of 
 Queen Mary's sons and grandsons. Mr. Jackson paid him for 
 Blair Athol alone, shortly before the St. Leger, consequently 
 after the son of Blink Bonny had won for his breeder the 
 Derby, not less than 7000/.; and Breadalbane, Broomielaw, 
 Blinkhoolie, etc., also considerably swelled his receipts from 
 the male line. With the female progeny of Queen Mary Mr. 
 I'Anson founded a breeding stud, whose yearling produce, from 
 nine to ten in number, realized at Doncaster, as late as 1880, an 
 average of 900 gs. 
 
 What incalculable value is not represented by a mare like 
 Pocahontas, whose direct descendants won the four classic races 
 of England on no less than forty-five occasions ! Pocahontas, 
 bred 1837. reached the advanced age of thirty-three years; 
 she bred fifteen foals, amongst which the stallions Stockwell, 
 Rataplan, and King Tom, and, in a lesser degree, Knight of 
 Kars and Knight of St. Patrick, shine as stars of the first mag- 
 nitude. When twenty-five years of age, Pocahontas bred her 
 last foal, Araucaria ; and how potent remained in her that vital 
 power with which she endowed her last offspring is shown by 
 the achievements of the latter's progeny Stephanotis, Welling- 
 tonia, Camelia (winner of the Oaks), Chamant (winner of the 
 Middle Park and Dewhurst Plates and the Two Thousand 
 Guineas), and Rayon d'Or (winner of the St. Leger). Poca- 
 hontas founded a family of heroes, which ruled the Turf to an 
 extent never equalled. Stockwell, himself a winner of the Two 
 Thousand Guineas and the Leger, sired (besides three winners 
 of the Blue Ribbon) six winners of the St. Leger, a number 
 which has never been reached before or since. 
 3 
 
34 
 
 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 It is highly interesting to follow the progeny of celebrated 
 ancestresses in all its branches, with their winners or dams of 
 winners, the issue of each generation, especially in the female 
 line ; the value of the stallions being, as a rule, more univer- 
 sally known. 
 
 Before spending a large sum of money for a brood mare, it 
 will be well to construe a genealogical table of the strains of 
 blood throughout the female side, as I have hereafter tried with 
 regard to the Queen Mary and Miss Agnes families. Nothing 
 is so appropriate to show at a glance whether the mare under 
 consideration belongs to a great racing family, or whether such 
 qualities were inherited, in solitary instances only, or not all, 
 on the side of the dam. 
 
 QUEEN MARY. 
 
 Bred 1843, by Gladiator, dam by Plenipotentiary out of Myrrha, by Whalebone 
 out of Gift, by Gohanna. 
 
 Bred. 
 
 Name. 
 
 I 
 
 d 
 
 Important Races. 
 
 1850 
 
 Sons. 
 BALROWNIE . . . 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 Doncaster Stakes. 
 
 1853 
 1858 
 
 BONNIE SCOTLAND 
 
 BONNYFIELD 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 Doncaster Stakes. 
 Disabled, but sire of winners. 
 
 1862 
 
 BROOMIELAW . . .... 
 
 18 
 
 7 
 
 Dee Stakes. 
 
 1863 
 
 
 16 
 
 6 
 
 Chesterfield Cup. 
 Dee Stakes. 
 
 1864 
 
 BliINKHOOLIE . 
 
 21 
 
 9 
 
 Ascot Gold Vase. 
 
 1847 
 
 Daughters. 
 I HARICOT 
 
 40 
 
 17 
 
 Alexandra Plate. 
 
 1857 
 
 Her Produce, 
 a Cramond . . 
 
 21 
 
 3 
 
 
 1858 
 
 6 Caller Ou 
 
 98 
 
 49 
 
 34 Queen's Plates. 
 
 1867 
 1868 
 1870 
 1872 
 1878 
 1864 
 
 Pandore . . 
 The Pearl . . 
 Poldoody . . 
 Periwinkle . 
 Roysterer . . 
 
 14 
 27 
 13 
 11 
 13 
 
 4 
 8 
 2 
 3 
 2 
 
 St. Leger. 
 Twice Northumberland Plate. 
 Brighton Cup. 
 York Cup. 
 
 Still running. 
 
 1870 
 1873 
 
 King William . . 
 Titania . 
 
 38 
 2 
 
 6 
 1 
 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 35 
 
 QUEEN MAKY continued. 
 
 Bred. 
 
 Name. 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 Important Races. 
 
 1868 
 872 
 
 1876 
 
 1878 
 
 HARICOT continued, 
 d. Lady Langden . . 
 Hampton .... 
 
 Sir Bevys .... 
 Fosyan ... 
 
 6 
 33 
 
 4 
 14 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 Epsom Gold Cup. 
 Doncaster Cup. 
 Northumberland Plate. 
 Goodwood Cup. 
 Goodwood Stakes. 
 Derby. 
 
 1869 
 1849 
 
 e. Freeman 
 II. BRAXEY 
 
 37 
 
 PiO 
 
 9 
 1*) 
 
 Twice GreatNorthern Handicap. 
 Goodwood Stakes. 
 Chesterfield Cup. 
 Alexandra Plate. 
 
 1858 
 
 Her Produce 
 a. Bernice . 
 
 >! 
 
 8 
 
 
 1862 
 1868 
 1863 
 1865 
 
 b. Kate Hampton . . 
 Lady Mortimer . 
 c. La Dauphine . . . 
 d. Thrift 
 
 7 
 11 
 24 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 
 1878 
 
 1879 
 1869 
 
 Tristran .... 
 
 Pursebearer . . . 
 e. Ella 
 
 37 
 
 11 
 
 fl8 
 
 18 
 
 2 
 4 
 
 Epsom Gold Cup. 
 Ascot Gold Vase. 
 Hardwicke Stakes. 
 Champion Stakes. 
 Grand Prix Deauville. 
 Still running. 
 Still running. 
 
 1870 
 1852 
 
 1858 
 
 /. Miss Wingie .... 
 III. BLOOMING HEATHER . 
 Her Produce. 
 a. Grouse 
 
 16 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 
 1859 
 
 b. Gorse 
 
 21 
 
 2 
 
 
 1872 
 1873 
 
 1875 
 1876 
 
 Goura 
 Good Hope . . . 
 
 Blanc Hexe . . . 
 Tyrann . . . 
 
 17 
 5 
 
 12 
 
 17 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 2 
 5 
 
 Hertefeldt. 
 Vienna Derby. 
 Union Berlin. 
 
 Still running. 
 
 1877 
 1878 
 1862 
 1869 
 1863 
 1867 
 
 Schlenderhan . . 
 Kaiser 
 c. Maid Marian . . . 
 King Tom colt . 
 d. Robin Hood. . . . 
 e. Mahonia 
 
 6 
 3 
 5 
 4 
 11 
 T> 
 
 2 
 3 
 1 
 1 
 
 2 
 8 
 
 Still running. 
 Hertefeldt. Still running. 
 
 1874 
 1869 
 1854 
 
 1860 
 
 Magnolia .... 
 /. Laburnum .... 
 IV. BLINK BONNY .... 
 Her Produce, 
 a. Borealis . . . 
 
 9 
 22 
 20 
 
 ?1 
 
 1 
 3 
 14 
 
 fi 
 
 and 5 Steeplechases. 
 Derby. 
 Oaks. 
 
 1868 
 1869 
 1870 
 1872 
 
 Hyperion .... 
 Red Light . . . 
 Blue Light . . . 
 Flying Scotchman 
 
 25 
 5 
 16 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 2 
 1 
 
 
36 
 
 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 QUEEN MAKY continued. 
 
 Bred. 
 
 Name. 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 Important Kaces. 
 
 1873 
 1861 
 
 1862 
 1857 
 1870 
 
 BLINK BONNY continued. 
 Pier Light . . . 
 b. Blair Athol .... 
 
 c. Breadalbane .... 
 
 V. BAB-AT-THE-BOWSTER . 
 Her Produce. 
 a. Whymper . . . 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 27 
 18 
 1? 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 3 
 
 ?, 
 
 Derby. 
 Leger. 
 Prince of Wales Stakes, Ascot. 
 Gratwicke Stakes. 
 
 1872 
 1875 
 1876 
 1859 
 
 1874 
 
 b. Mare by Adventurer 
 c. Mare by Knowsley . 
 d. Lady Dixie .... 
 VI. BONNY BREAST - KNOT 
 (in France). 
 Her Produce, 
 a. Sheldrake 
 
 22 
 15 
 35 
 10 
 
 39 
 
 6 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 ft 
 
 
 1860 
 
 1867 
 1869 
 
 VII. BONNY BELL .... 
 Her Produce. 
 a. Bonny Swell . . . 
 b. Tocsin .... 
 
 12 
 
 17 
 q 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 
 1871 
 
 c. Blantyre 
 
 9 
 
 ?, 
 
 
 1874 
 
 d Muscatel 
 
 9^ 
 
 3 
 
 
 1875 
 
 e. Beauclerc . . . 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 Middle Park Plate. 
 
 1866 
 
 VIII. BERTHA 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 
 1872 
 
 Her Produce, 
 a Brenda . . . 
 
 47 
 
 ?,1 
 
 
 1873 
 
 b. Bridget 
 
 27 
 
 4 
 
 and over hurdles. 
 
 MISS AGNES. 
 
 Bred 1850, by Birdcatcher out of Agnes (dam of Lady Agnes), by Clarion out 
 of Annette (dam of Ambrose and Glenmasson), by Priam. 
 
 Bred. 
 
 Name. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Important Races. 
 
 1858 
 
 Sons. 
 
 GOLDSEEKER 
 
 17 
 
 4 
 
 
 1859 
 
 KING OP KARS . . . 
 
 17 
 
 3 
 
 
 1864 
 
 BISMARCK 
 
 46 
 
 13 
 
 
 1869 
 
 LANDMARK 
 
 16 
 
 ?, 
 
 
 1871 
 
 1856 
 
 COURONNE DE FER .... 
 
 Daughters. 
 I LITTLE AGNES 
 
 10 
 
 ?,?, 
 
 4 
 4 
 
 Hurstbourne Stakes. 
 Stockbridge Cup. 
 Hopeful Stakes. 
 
 1861 
 1862 
 1869 
 1871 
 1873 
 
 Her Produce, 
 a. Prince Arthur . 
 b. Wild Agnes . . . 
 Little Agnes. 
 Fair Agnes . 
 Wild Tommy 
 
 13 
 37 
 13 
 4 
 19 
 
 6 
 14 
 6 
 
 "i 
 
 Prix de Diane. 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 37 
 
 MISS AGNES continued. 
 
 Bred. 
 
 Name. 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 Important Races. 
 
 1863 
 
 LITTLE AGNES continued, 
 c. Fair Agnes (broken 
 hip) 
 
 
 
 
 1868 
 1870 
 1871 
 1872 
 
 Bishopthorpe . . 
 Wild Aggie . . . 
 Agglethorpe . . 
 Percy 
 
 68 
 21 
 67 
 13 
 
 16 
 9 
 12 
 1 
 
 
 1874 
 1877 
 1878 
 1879 
 1864 
 1868 
 1869 
 1870 
 1871 
 
 Constantino . . . 
 Gildersbeck . . . 
 Melmerby .... 
 Daffodil .... 
 d. Tibthorpe .... 
 e. Merry Agnes . . . 
 /. Little Heroine . . . 
 ?. Couleur de Rose . . 
 . Thirsk ....'.. 
 
 41 
 41 
 23 
 5 
 44 
 31 
 25 
 17 
 16 
 
 5 
 8 
 2 
 1 
 11 
 9 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 
 Still running. 
 Still running. 
 
 Stewards' Cup. 
 
 1875 
 1878 
 1857 
 
 1862 
 
 1868 
 
 i. Bonnie Agnes . . . 
 k. Banbury Bun . . . 
 II. BROWN AGNES .... 
 Her Produce. 
 a. Brown Bread . . . 
 
 b. Andorka . . 
 
 7 
 9 
 5 
 
 25 
 
 35 
 
 2 
 1 
 
 9 
 6 
 
 Northumberland Plate. 
 Caledonian St. Leger. 
 Nemzeti. 
 
 1877 
 1869 
 
 Armgard .... 
 c. Labancz . . 
 
 18 
 5 
 
 7 
 1 
 
 
 1863 
 1865 
 
 1871 
 
 1875 
 1876 
 1867 
 
 III. DARK AGNES (dead) . 
 IV. POLLY AGNES .... 
 Her Produce, 
 a. Lily Agnes .... 
 
 b. Tiger Lily . . . . 
 c. Jessy Agnes . . . 
 V. FRIVOLITY 
 
 29 
 32 
 
 14 
 13 
 15 
 
 4 
 21 
 
 2 
 6 
 4 
 
 Northumberland Plate. 
 York Cup. 
 Doncaster Cup. 
 Ebor Handicap. 
 
 Althorp Park Stakes. 
 
 1874 
 1877 
 1870 
 
 1875 
 
 Her Produce, 
 a. Grand Templar . . 
 b. Miss Edwards . . . 
 
 VI. WlNDERMERE .... 
 
 Her Produce. 
 a. Ether 
 
 13 
 
 26 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 10 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Middle Park Plate. 
 
 1876 
 
 b. Bowness 
 
 17 
 
 B 
 
 
 1877 
 1878 
 
 c. Muncaster .... 
 d. Westmoreland . . . 
 
 3 
 4 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 Still running. 
 
 How far the exterior is to be considered in the choice of 
 animals intended for the stud is an open question which causes 
 much dispute, but which each breeder answers for himself, 
 according to the aim he has in view. 
 
38 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 Those who will not pay the cost of production of the thor- 
 oughbred, that is, who breed and use half-bred horses, insist on 
 the power and regularity in make and shape of the latter ; they 
 forget, however, that the breeder of thoroughbreds can calculate 
 to a fraction that selling his produce outside the racecourse by 
 the standard of the exterior alone will not pay for its rearing, 
 nor original cost and keep of the brood mares, covering fees, 
 &c. If he had no other means of disposing advantageously of 
 his produce, he would find himself placed in the alternative, 
 either to breed from cheap, and, therefore, indifferent material, 
 at a rate of expense not exceeding that of a half-bred stud, pro- 
 ducing consequently inferior animals, never subjected to public 
 trials, or to give up breeding altogether. Of the two, he would 
 certainly do better to choose the latter ; for, by following the 
 former plan, he would find himself needlessly restricted in the 
 choice of brood mares and sires, and, after all, produce animals, 
 the only difference between which and half-breds would consist 
 in inferior size and lack of substance. 
 
 He who would breed thoroughbreds on rational principles, 
 and knows how to calculate, is forced to look for a better re- 
 turn for the capital invested than the every-day market affords. 
 This he will find only on the racecourse, without which the 
 production of thoroughbreds would be aimless, because it offers 
 the only possible public trial on which the whole principle is 
 based. 
 
 To sum up, I say : 
 
 The breeding of thoroughbreds to suit the ever-changing 
 fashion as to exterior, without regard to highly-tried capabil- 
 ities, I look upon as an absurdity in that case it would be 
 preferable to turn one's attention to the better classes of the 
 half-bred but within the acknowledged best strains of blood 
 I should by no means neglect, if only on patriotic grounds, the 
 exterior, for in the production of our half-breds it has become 
 an absolute necessity to use thoroughbred stallions, not only 
 with performances of a high order, but also that our cavalry 
 horses may answer certain conditions and forms about make 
 and shape laid down in order to prevent their deterioration. 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 39 
 
 The term of so-called faultlessness, however, is not to be taken 
 in so strict a sense, when used in conjunction with the tried 
 thoroughbred, as when applied to the untried half-bred. 
 
 In the former, every deviation from the true shape is ren- 
 dered more distinct by the exertions inseparable from the train- 
 ing ground and the racecourse, and, by the tension or straining 
 of the sinews, muscles and tendons, even develops into a visible 
 defect. In the half-bred stallion "the disposition to the same 
 imperfection slumbers perhaps still nearer the surface, and 
 would scarcely allow him to pride himself on his cheaply 
 acquired freedom from blemish, if he were ever compelled to 
 leave his dolce far niente and undergo severe trials. 
 
 My opinion as to the relative value of true shape and per- 
 formances in the choice of a stallion to breed from, that is, 
 what percentage of the one might be sacrificed to the other, 
 may, not inaptly, I believe, in figures be thus expressed: 
 I require the sire, intended for the production of thorough- 
 breds, for every per cent, less performance three per cent, more 
 exterior the form, however, should never be less than good 
 second class ; for that of half-breds I reverse the proportion, 
 and give for every per cent, exterior three per cent, perform- 
 ance. To breed racehorses from a stallion who himself did not 
 belong to the first or second class on the turf is imprudent, for 
 the instances of an inferior stallion producing a superior race- 
 horse are of such very rare occurrence this used to be tried, 
 not without success, most frequently in France, but has latterly 
 there also begun to bear bad fruit that the numerous fruitless 
 experiments which must be made before that one is found 
 would in all likelihood swallow a fortune. 
 
 Now, taken into consideration that England, for instance, 
 produces every year a thousand thoroughbred colts, and of 
 that number not more than one or two develop into racehorses 
 of the first class, and perhaps two or three of a second class, 
 good enough to breed thoroughbreds from ; considered further, 
 how lenient the English breeder is with regard to certain im- 
 perfections of shape which, in Germany, would condemn the 
 horse at once, and that, on the other hand, the, in England, 
 
40 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 acknowledged very best stallions are scarcely ever for sale, it 
 may be readily understood how difficult it is to acquire a stal- 
 lion of the first class adapted to the production of thorough- 
 breds, and if first rate form and undeniable pedigree be strictly 
 adhered to, how necessary it is sometimes to be more indulgent 
 with regard to the exterior than under other circumstances 
 inclination would admit. 
 
 Our German public knows nought of such difficulties, and 
 requires that the thoroughbred stallion of the first class, besides 
 form and quality, be possessed of the power and truth of shape 
 of the half-bred, and the action of the Arab. The good people 
 forget that everything in the world has its limits, and that 
 Nature herself is impotent, when asked to produce an animal 
 of the strength of the elephant with the agility of the gazelle. 
 
 It is difficult and requires much local knowledge to buy 
 sound mares of the best strains of blood and some public form 
 or proved excellence at the stud, yet is their number not nearly 
 so narrowly limited as that of sires. It is therefore advisable, 
 in the choice of mares, to be more rigorous with regard to make 
 and shape, else the thoroughbred will scarcely fulfil its mission 
 the production of capable half-bred stallions, answering the 
 conditions which the breeders of such and of cavalry horses are 
 justified in making. 
 
 The realization of this purpose by judicious mating of sire 
 and dam is materially facilitated, if the breeder is not only 
 familiar with the peculiarities of the families from which they 
 are descended, but also has known them during their racing 
 career. The impression received on the racecourse of the horse 
 in the height of condition is with greater truth reflected in its 
 immediate descendants, than that which is derived from the 
 same animal when at the stud. In the former case nothing is 
 hidden by superfluous flesh, and every imperfection of shape 
 is rendered more conspicuous, when every muscle, sinew, and 
 tendon is braced by hard work. 
 
 It may, perhaps, not be out of place here to express my views 
 on the, of late years, steadily increasing disorder of roaring. 
 
 I have observed that in the English thoroughbred the growth 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 41 
 
 of this defect has kept pace with the increase of two-year-old 
 racing, especially in early spring, and consequent thereon with 
 the increase of studs breeding for sale. 
 
 This may appear strange, but is easily explained. Racing 
 at so tender an age requires early developed yearlings ; those 
 studs, however, can flourish only when keeping that requisite 
 in view, for experience teaches that ja, yearling which promises 
 to win back his purchase-money within eight or ten months, 
 will command a much higher price than one whose usefulness 
 will probably not begin before his third year. The consequence 
 is that they force their produce like asparagus in a hot-bed, in 
 order to bring them up for sale as big as it is possible to get 
 them. Such only find ready customers, and the assumption by 
 a discriminating public, that all such breeders act on the same 
 principle, more especially those who affirm the contrary, totally 
 depreciates the less developed yearlings, for the purchaser be- 
 lieves and generally his surmise is not without justification 
 that with them also the forcing process has been tried, but tried 
 in vain. Thus, every stud owner breeding for sale is compelled 
 to adopt the pernicious practice, and, in the end, the home 
 breeder will have to follow the fashion. 
 
 That to yearlings, unnaturally forced in their development, 
 the early training brings more danger than to those reared in 
 a natural, and, therefore, more healthy manner hence smaller 
 and less gross, is self-evident. Their puffed-out organs of 
 respiration especially are affected by the keen atmosphere in 
 autumn and winter, during which their first training takes 
 place, and, consequently, rendered more prone to inflammation. 
 If the constitutional weakness, from which originates the in- 
 clination to morbid affections of the respiratory organs through 
 irrational rearing is continued from generation to generation, 
 the predisposition to roaring ultimately becomes hereditary. 
 
 Most frequent, naturally, are these symptoms of disorder in 
 descendants from stallions from whom they inherit the attribute 
 of quick growth, for they are the first taken into training. 
 
 It is equally natural that young horses with long necks turn 
 roarers sooner than short-necked ones; for if through each of 
 
42 NOTES ON BEEEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 two tubes of the same width, but of different length, a certain 
 quantity of air shall pass in exactly the same space of time, it 
 follows with mathematical certainty that, in the longer tube, 
 the current must be forced through at a quicker rate, and, con- 
 sequently, affect the sides and valves in a higher degree than 
 in the shorter. It is, moreover, a well-known fact in human 
 physiology, that long necks incline more to diseases of the 
 larynx than others. 
 
 English breeders do not, however, on account of the predom- 
 inating number of short races which may be won by a roarer, 
 hesitate to use stallions thus afflicted at the stud. I believe 
 that, if the system were changed, two-year-old racing abolished, 
 and the distances to be run over generally lengthened, throat 
 diseases would gradually diminish, though not at the same ratio 
 in which they have for the last thirty years increased. 
 
 I am, however, no advocate of so radical a measure as the 
 abolishment of two-year-old races, which for many reasons 
 could not be carried out without any detriment to racing at 
 large ; I am only at a loss how to check in any other way the 
 fattening process yearlings are forced to undergo, and the too 
 early and too frequent racing of two-year-olds. 
 
 It will, no doubt, be argued, that there are many roarers to 
 be found in France, although in that country two-year-olds do 
 not run before the 1st of August, and the distances in races for 
 horses above that age are twice as long as in England. It is 
 true there are a good many roarers in France now, but the dis- 
 ease was imported from England, and has spread with the 
 greatly enhanced prices of yearlings, caused by the vast in- 
 crease in the demand for racing material. 
 
 Based on and caused by the rapid growth of racing in 
 France, a great number of studs, principally breeding for the 
 yearlings market, have sprung into existence, carrying on 
 wholesale production by means of unsound mares, imported 
 from England by the dozen at 501. apiece and even less. 
 Twenty years ago there were scarcely any roarers in France, 
 but also no studs breeding for sale. 
 
 I am well aware that at present many public breeders may 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 43 
 
 point to certain private studs, producing as many roarers as 
 themselves or more. But I think this does not much shake 
 my argument. No doubt a certain number of select studs 
 breeding first-class yearlings for sale, as for instance the 
 Blankney stud and some others, contribute just as much to 
 the improvement of the breed as the best private studs ; but 
 what I mean to say is, that the overgrowth of public studs, in 
 comparison to home breeding, softens the thoroughbred race, 
 through using too much weak, unsound, and altogether inferior 
 material for the reproduction, and through forcing the foals too 
 much with a view to the yearling market. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 IN-BREEDINGOUT-CROSSING. 
 
 I HAVE promised elsewhere to explain my views on the ad- 
 vantages or disadvantages of in-breeding with regard to the 
 breed of racehorses, and will now proceed to do so. It is much 
 to be regretted that our writers on zoology have not, instead of 
 sheep, pigs, cattle, or cart horses, chosen the thoroughbred horse 
 as the basis of their investigations in that direction. 
 
 According to my idea, no species of animal creation is so 
 specially adapted for that purpose, for here incontestable facts 
 and the accumulated statistics of the racing calendar collected 
 during a space of more than one hundred and seventy years, 
 are available as incontrovertible evidence, whereas in the 
 breeding spheres selected and treated on by the zoologists, 
 much must naturally depend on personal opinion, unreliable 
 information, statements copied from other authors, or similar 
 unsupported assertions. 
 
 The origin of the English thoroughbred is carried back to 
 three Oriental ancestors, viz., the Byerly Turk, the Darley 
 Arabian, and the Godolphin Arabian. It is a universally 
 recognized maxim to count all living stud horses as belong- 
 ing to those families from which they descend in a direct male 
 line, the maternal descent being a matter of secondary consid- 
 eration. It is manifest that this classification should not in all 
 cases be a criterion, for a horse may have in its veins, through' 
 the dams, double the quantity of blood from their families to 
 that which is derived from the male descent of its sire, and yet 
 is considered to belong to the family of the latter. 
 
 If, however, the object is to gain a general view of the whole 
 breed, and especially of those families which in course of time 
 have proved most successful, and to follow up their origin to 
 
 44 
 
IN-BREEDINGOUT-CROSSING. 45 
 
 the beginning of the last century, nothing remains but to class- YjJ 
 ify them according to their male ancestors, the female descent J 
 offering not nearly so clear a perspective. 
 
 In order to afford a more comprehensive view of the whole 
 subject, I have, as a special supplement, added thirteen tables, 
 of which the first three reach to the middle of the nineteenth 
 century, and the following ten show the progeny of those stal- 
 lions whose male descendants at the present time rank foremost at V 
 the stud, and appear destined in coming generations to form the ,| .1 
 corner-stones of the race. As such they will probably suffice fu- 
 ture breeders as points of departure in the framing of pedigrees. 
 
 These compilations show that the family of the Darley 
 Arabian, or rather that of Eclipse, largely predominates, . 
 especially in England, over the other two. 
 
 The family which claims the Byerly Turk for its ancestor, 
 with his three great descendants, Wild Dayrell, The Flying 
 Dutchman, and Partisan, at present exercises less influence on 
 the breed in England than in other countries. 
 
 Wild Dayrell's most eminent son, Buccaneer, was carried off 
 to Hungary after having produced in England, besides several 
 prominent mares amongst them two winners of the Oaks 
 only Paul Jones and See Saw. Hungary in her turn, however, 
 had to witness the expatriation of Buccaneer's most celebrated 
 scion, Kisber, to the land of his ancestors. 
 
 The Flying Dutchman went to France and there got his two 
 best sons, Dollar and Dutch Skater, of which two the latter, at 
 present serving at the stud in England, seems to be the less 
 valuable, since, with the exception of Insulaire and Dutch 
 Oven, he has, as yet, produced nothing of note. 
 
 Partisan's most famous son, Gladiator, also fell to the share 
 of France, where he got a great number of excellent mares 
 amongst others Gladiateur's dam, and, especially through 
 founding the Fitz Gladiator family, acquired lasting merit. 
 Fortunately for England he bequeathed to her in Sweetmeat 
 a pillar of the breed, and in Queen Mary the dam of Haricot, 
 Blooming Heather, Blink Bonny the mother of a family of 
 heroes. 
 
46 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 Besides these England has kept nothing prominent of Parti- 
 san's progeny ; neither Kingston, nor his two most noteworthy 
 sons, Ely and Caractacus, having realized at the stud what 
 they promised on the turf. The Derby winner of 1862 was 
 later on exported to Kussia. 
 
 Glaucus's line is represented by The Nabob's sons only, of 
 which England possessed Nutbourne alone ; while France got 
 Suzerain and Vermout, with his sons, Boiard and Perplexe, 
 and Austria, Bois Roussel. America, too, has owned in a 
 lineal descendant from the Byerly Turk, Lexington, one of 
 her most successful sires. 
 
 The Godolphin Arabian in our days is, properly speaking, 
 represented by the Melbourne family alone, and in England 
 threatens to become extinct in his male descendants. The 
 most successful stallion of that clan living seems to be Ruy 
 Bias ; but this son of West Australian is in France, whither 
 the first winner of that great treble event or triple crown as 
 it is called Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger was 
 exported. It may yet be that Knight of the Garter, Plebeian, 
 or Statesman rouse themselves, and after all give to England a 
 first-class sire of that strain of blood. For the first of the three 
 it was, perhaps, unfortunate that The Jewel, in foal to him, was 
 sent abroad ; yet it is questionable whether Przedswit, with his 
 doubtful pluck, would in England have become of sufficient 
 note to induce the breeding public to send him really good 
 mares. The Earl, Mornington, Pell Mell, Straffbrd, and the 
 brother to Straffbrd, appear scarcely destined to continue in 
 coming centuries the Melbourne family. 
 
 It is a remarkable fact, that the Melbourne blood in its 
 female descent shows to so much greater advantage than in the 
 other sex, for which reason the family is so inadequately repre- 
 sented in the stallions belonging to it. In the whole stud book 
 there is scarcely to* be found a sire of better, and in their pro- 
 geny more successful, mares than Melbourne (Blink Bonny, 
 Blooming Heather, Canezou, Go-ahead, Leila, Mentmore Lass, 
 The Slave, Stolen Moments, Sortie, The Bloomer, etc.) ; but of 
 his sons, West Australian alone achieved a great reputation. 
 
IN-BREEDING OUT-CROSSING. 47 
 
 With regard to him also, this superiority of the female descent 
 holds good, as he got, besides a great number of more than use- 
 ful mares, only two prominent sons, The Wizard and Ruy Bias, 
 of whom the former, although himself a good racehorse, scarcely 
 left any traces in Germany, the country of his adoption. 
 
 Now if we consider the question, what sort of crosses in the 
 different strains of blood have recommended themselves as most 
 desirable although within the thoroughbred race there cannot, 
 properly speaking, be any question of a cross, as understood in 
 zoology, because the whole breed is more or less related we 
 naturally come to the conclusion that the breeder is involun- 
 tarily forced into breeding within close relationship by the en- 
 deavor to adhere to the families of established reputation, and 
 within them to use for his purpose none but their most prom- 
 inent members. In the commencement of the race we notice 
 numerous cases of incest, logically accounted for, however, by 
 the desire to mate the then existing and not too numerous indi- 
 viduals of tried excellence, and thereby perpetuate that quality. 
 In the pedigree of Eclipse even occurs a glaring instance of 
 incest, the grand-dam of Betty Leedes, who was the great 
 grand-dam of Eclipse, having been got by Spanker from his 
 own dam. The more the breed developed, the less pressing 
 grew the necessity for close relationship, but in the days of 
 Eclipse, bred in 1764, and his immediate descendants, the need 
 still existed to a great extent, for by the general stud book a 
 score of horses may be proved to have been got by sons of 
 Eclipse from daughters of the same horse, but this alliance 
 never produced anything extraordinary. Even in the present 
 century many cases of incestuous breeding have occurred, but 
 very few of them have proved successful. I shall have to make 
 some remarks on two of their number (Juliana, bred 1810, and 
 Valentine, bred 1832) later on. 
 
 Opinions as to whether relationship in parents is advantage- 
 ous, and, if so, to what degree and where it begins to be in- 
 jurious, differ very much even in our own days in England. 
 
 The thoroughbred is, with regard to this subtle question, 
 especially adapted as a field for study and experiment, because 
 
48 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 the uninterrupted trials of the produce of this or that principle 
 in breeding are made public, and their results, as collected in 
 the racing statistics of one hundred and seventy years, accessi- 
 ble to everybody. The inference drawn will, however, fre- 
 quently prove the reverse of what follows from the same in- 
 vestigations, when applied to the untried half-bred, where the 
 analysis of the calculation is based on the personal opinion of 
 the investigator. 
 
 If we take, for instance, the pedigree of Friponnier, we find 
 that he is the produce of uncle and niece, consequently of very 
 close in-breeding. Friponnier, although the fastest horse of his 
 day, proved himself a failure as a sire of racehorses, because he 
 wanted the individual power to transfer his racing qualities to 
 his descendants. He is, therefore, quoted as a warning exam- 
 ple of too close in-breeding in thoroughbreds. He then was 
 sent to a half-bred stud in Germany, and there has unquestion- 
 ably proved a great success. Writers on zoology, unfamiliar 
 with the thoroughbred and its public trials, will therefore prob- 
 ably quote Friponnier as a brilliant example of that very same 
 close relationship in the parents, on account of which he was in 
 the first instance discarded. 
 
 But, before we enter more deeply into this matter, it is neces- 
 sary to come to a clear understanding as to the meaning, with 
 regard to the thoroughbred, of the terms : in-breeding, moderate 
 relationship, and out-crossing. If they are not clearly defined, 
 all real discussion is rendered futile. Stonehenge's disquisitions 
 on the subject are indistinct, because not worked out on a 
 firmly established system. If he instances Stockwell and Rata- 
 plan as in-bred, but Partisan and Emilius as out-crossed, he 
 overlooks, that those celebrated brothers are doubly and trebly 
 as far removed from their common ancestor on the male and 
 female side, as the latter two from theirs. This proportion is 
 by no means altered by the circumstance, that in Stockwell and 
 Rataplan's pedigree Waxy occurs not twice, but three times ; 
 for even then they have only -fa Waxy blood in their veins, 
 whereas Partisan has -^ and Emilius i + T V = A Highflyer 
 blood. 
 
IN-BREEDING OUT-CROSSING. 49 
 
 I am of opinion, that a horse should only be termed in-bred, 
 when in sum total less than four degrees lay between its parents 
 and their common ancestor ; in other words, when the children 
 or grandchildren of a stallion or a mare are mated, I call their 
 produce in-bred ; but this term does not apply to the produce 
 of great grandchildren of the common ancestor. We must 
 not forget that in the pedigrees of horses the word brother or 
 sister often means half-brother or half-sister, and that here the- 
 definition borrowed from the human family connection is. not 
 applicable. 
 
 As breeding within moderate relationship I reckon the mating 
 of stallion and mare that are removed from their common an- 
 cestor four, five, or six degrees. It is indifferent whether they 
 are on both sides equidistant from, or one of them nearer to the 
 male or female progenitor than the other. 
 
 The English breeder of the old school was of opinion, that 
 breeding from very closely related parents, even if possessed of 
 the most excellent qualities, as a rule, led to disappointing 
 results ; in isolated cases, however, to the production of indi- 
 vidual animals qf quite extraordinary capabilities ; and on the 
 whole, I incline to that view myself. 
 
 More recently and in consideration of such exceptional in- 
 stances, especially since Friponnier's appearance, the mating of 
 very nearly connected stallions and mares has frequently been 
 tried in England, but generally with the old result, that is, 
 abundant failures, but also a few eminent exceptions, like 
 Galopin and Petrarch. 
 
 As a matter of course follows the important question as to 
 the individual productive power of such in-bred stallions. The 
 current which in England set in the direction of in-breeding, 
 naturally caused a strong counter-current, in its turn in many 
 cases rejecting for breeding purposes, as in-bred, stallions 
 that, in my opinion, come not within the meaning of the 
 term. 
 
 In order to gain a clear insight into the matter, let us classify 
 the stallions renowned on the turf and afterwards used for stud 
 purposes, according to the degree of relationship existing be- 
 
 4 
 
50 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 tween their parents; and then inquire which degree has fur- 
 nished the best results as to power of reproduction. 
 
 I believe myself to be tolerably at home in the Racing Cal- 
 endar and the Stud Book, yet it is possible I may have over- 
 looked some pertinent instances. If so, I shall be glad if by 
 the following compilations others interested in the subject be 
 stimulated, in furtherance of the good cause we serve, to sup- 
 plement or to refute what I have written. 
 
 A produce of brother and sister, or half-brother and half- 
 sister not being available amongst renowned stallions, I shall 
 begin with those whose parents are only one clear degree re- 
 moved from their common ancestor, male or female. Of such 
 I have been able to find but four, viz. : 
 
 1. Knight of St. George in-bred to Sir Hercules. 
 
 2. Crest " Touchstone. 
 
 3. Friponnier Orlando. 
 
 4. The Miner " Birdcatcher. 
 
 Two degrees removed are the parents of 
 
 1. Partisan in-bred to Highflyer. 
 
 2. Priam " Whiskey. 
 
 3. Humphrey Clinker " Sir Peter. 
 
 4. Election " Herod. 
 
 5. The Saddler " Waxy. 
 
 6. Sleight of Hand ] 
 
 7. The Drone LSSSr.} Peruvian. 
 
 8. Van Amburgh J 
 
 9. Pericles* " Highflyer. 
 
 10. Brutandorf " Pot-8-os. 
 
 11. Blue Gown " Touchstone. 
 
 12. Galopin " Voltaire. 
 
 13. Lowlander Pantaloon. 
 
 14. Petrarch " Touchstone. 
 
 Three degrees removed are the parents of 
 
 1. Orlando in-bred to Selim. 
 
 2. The Flying Dutchman .... " Selim. 
 
 3. Emilius " Highflyer. 
 
 * Pericles has 4-16ths each of Highflyer and Herod blood. 
 
IN-BREEDING OUT-CROSSING. 
 
 51 
 
 4. Weatherbit in-bred to Orville. 
 
 5. Buccaneer Edmund by Orville. 
 
 6. Tramp " Eclipse. 
 
 7. Blacklock " Highflyer. 
 
 8. Epirus " Sir Peter. 
 
 9. Cotherstone " Waxy and Penelope. 
 
 10. Chatham " Waxy and Penelope. 
 
 11. Oulston .... " ' Cervantes. 
 
 12. Elthiron 
 
 13. Windhound Own v 
 
 14. Hobbie Noble brothers} Peruvian. 
 
 15. The Reiver 
 
 16. Argonaut " Sir Hercules. 
 
 17. Macgregor " Banter. 
 
 18. Knight of the Garter " Camel. 
 
 19. Pero Gomez " Lady Moore Carew. 
 
 20. Dalham* " Touchstone. 
 
 21. Isonomy Birdcatcher. 
 
 22. Silvio " 
 
 Four degrees removed are the parents of 
 
 1. Sweetmeat f . . on both sides goes back to Prunella. 
 
 2. The Baron ... " Waxy. 
 
 3. BayMiddleton . " Sir Peter. 
 
 4- Sultan Eclipse and Highflyer. 
 
 5. Pantaloon ... " Eclipse and Highflyer. 
 
 6. Lanercost ... " " Gohanna. 
 
 7. Plenipotentiary . Sir Peter.J 
 
 8. Melbourne ... " Termagant. 
 
 9. Flatcatcher {^^} " " Waxy. 
 
 10. Wild Dayrell . . Selim. 
 
 11. Cambuscan ... " Whalebone. 
 
 12. The Palmer 1 Own 1 
 
 13. Kosicrucian f*****! 
 
 14. Trumpeter \ . . " goes Selim. 
 
 * Dalham's dam (Gertrude) also is three times removed from Touchstone, so that 
 l-32d of the same blood must be added. 
 
 f Sweetmeat's pedigree is doubtful, inasmuch as hjf dam Lollypop is put down to 
 two sires. She is, however, generally believed to be, not by Voltaire, but by Starch. 
 
 I To whose sire, Highflyer, both parents of Plenipotentiary, Emilius and Harriet 
 are in-bred. 
 
 \ His sire, Orlando, already being in-bred to the same horse, Trumpeter has five- 
 thirty-seconds Selim blood. 
 
52 
 
 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 15. Marsyas . . 
 
 16. Economist . 
 
 17. Sir Hercules 
 
 18. Liverpool . 
 
 19. Adventurer . 
 
 20. Hermit . . 
 
 21. Przedswit 
 
 on both sides goes back to Waxy. 
 
 " " Eclipse and Herod. 
 
 Eclipse. 
 
 Eclipse. 
 
 " " Orville. 
 
 " " Camel. 
 
 Fiv'e degrees removed are the parents of 
 1. Touchstone ... on both sides goes back to Eclipse. 
 
 2. Voltaire .... 
 
 3. Voltigeur 1 
 
 4. Barnton J ' * ' 
 
 5. Newminster . . 
 
 6. Van Tromp . . 
 
 7. Defence .... 
 
 8. Alarm 
 
 9. Ion 
 
 10. King Tom . . . 
 
 11. Saunterer . . . 
 
 12. Paragone .... 
 
 13. AndoverJ . . . 
 
 14. Venison .... 
 
 15. Velocipede . . . 
 
 16. Pyrrhus the First 
 
 17. Harkaway . . . 
 
 18. Cowl 
 
 19. Cossack .... 
 
 20. Kingston .... 
 
 21. Scottish Chief . . 
 
 22. Flibustier . . . 
 
 23. Sterling .... 
 
 24. Chamant .... 
 
 25. Kobert the Devil 
 
 g 
 
 Highflyer.* 
 
 Hambletonian. 
 f Trumpator and 
 I Beningbro'. 
 
 Buzzard. 
 
 Eclipse and Highflyer. 
 
 Sir Peter and Prunella. 
 
 Sir Peter. 
 
 Waxy. 
 
 Waxy and Penelope. 
 
 Orville. 
 
 Buzzard and Waxy. 
 
 Eclipse. 
 
 Pot-8-os and Highflyer. 
 
 Buzzard. 
 
 Pot-8-os. 
 
 Whiskey. 
 
 f Sorcerer, Stamford, and 
 \ Y. Giantess. 
 
 Sir Peter. 
 
 Orville. 
 
 Tramp. 
 
 Whalebone. 
 
 Emilius. 
 
 f Touchstone and 
 I Birdcatcher. 
 
 * To whom Voltaire's sire, Blacklock, is in-bred. 
 
 t Own brothers and sons of the foregoing. The third brother, Vortex, was too 
 inferior a racehorse to be mentioned here. 
 
 J His dam being in-bred to Waxy, Andover has only three-thirty-seconds Buzzard 
 blood, but four-thirty-seconds Waxy blood. 
 
IN-BKEEDING OUT-CROSSING. 53 
 
 Six degrees removed are the parents of 
 
 1. Irish Birdcatcher . on both sides goes back to Eclipse. 
 
 2. West Australian . " " Trumpator. 
 
 3. Stockwell "I Own \ 
 
 4. Kataplan /brothers} Waxy and Penelope. 
 
 5. St. Albans 1 Own ) 
 
 6. Whalebone. 
 
 7. Macaroni .... Sir Peter. 
 
 8. The Duke .... " Whalebone* 
 
 9. LordLyon ... " Whalebone. 
 
 10. Blair Athol ) Own \ 
 
 11. * Whalebone. 
 
 12. Favonius .... " " Whisker. 
 
 13. Kustic ..... " Whalebone. 
 
 14. Lambton .... " " Whiskey. 
 
 15. Ely ...... " Sorcerer. 
 
 16. Wenlock .... " " Whalebone. 
 
 17. Kisber ..... " " Sultan. 
 
 18. Lollypop .... " Whalebone. 
 
 The stallions of high importance to the breed, left after 
 the enumeration of the foregoing six categories, that is, whose 
 parents are distant from their common ancestor more than 
 six degrees, are, on closer inspection, comparatively few in 
 number, and of those remaining many, as, for instance, Lord 
 Clifden, Teddington, See Saw, George Frederick, Albert Victor, 
 etc., cannot, in the descent of their parents, show more than 
 seven clear removes. It follows, therefore, that nearly all stal- 
 lions of eminence in England, which in this case means the 
 whole of Europe, are the results of breeding within more or 
 less distant relationship. The aim of our investigations will 
 thus be less to ascertain whether relationship in breeding be at 
 all desirable, than to define the limits within which it operates 
 advantageously. 
 
 We shall be materially assisted in the attainment of our 
 purpose by subjecting, in their several categories, the stal- 
 lions named to an impartial critic, although I cannot disguise 
 from myself the difficulty of doing so without meeting with 
 opposition to my estimation of their relative worth. 
 
 * To whom The Duke's dam also on both sides traces back. 
 
54 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 Of the four stallions in the first category, we know that 
 Friponnier at the stud did not realize the expectations enter- 
 tained of him. The St. Leger winner, Knight of St. George's 
 best performance as a sire was the getting of Knight of St. 
 Patrick with a mare like Pocahontas, whose produce with 
 many other stallions with whom she was mated proved to be 
 superior to him. Knight of St. George was subsequently sold 
 to America, where he was not more fortunate than at home. 
 Orest, in consequence of an accident, never trod the turf; his 
 class as a racehorse, therefore, cannot be determined. He got, 
 however, a number of horses of a certain amount of medium 
 racing form, and may, in consideration thereof, be classed as 
 a successful sire. The Miner, Blair Athol's whilom conqueror 
 at York, turned out rather insignificant at the stud, his pater- 
 nity to Controversy being doubtful. 
 
 The second category is composed of fourteen stallions, amongst 
 whom Partisan, as sire of Gladiator, Venison, and Glaucus, stands 
 forth in such bold relief, that his value as a progenitor is above 
 question. 
 
 Priam, even if he left no immediate male descendant of em- 
 inence, as sire of Crucifix and such useful matrons as Miss 
 Letty, Annette, Dolphin, etc., deserves to be rated as a success- 
 ful, stallion. 
 
 Humphrey Clinker's claims to recognition principally rest on 
 his paternity to Melbourne, but in consideration of the latter's 
 worth, his merits must be deemed sufficient. 
 
 The Saddler and Brutandorf are of about equal value ; the 
 former's pretensions are, in a measure, justified by The Provost, 
 while the latter's are based on Physician, whose sons, The Cure, 
 and especially Blackdrop, merited the esteem in which they 
 were held ; the latter in Germany. 
 
 Election can scarcely be said to rank very high as a progen- 
 itor, nor has Sleight of Hand sired any racehorse of the first 
 class. His paternity to several good mares, like Lady Eliza- 
 beth (dam of Stolen Moments), Legerdemain (dam of Adonis 
 and Wimbledon) alone, does not entitle him to be ranked 
 amongst the successful sires, and still less do his two full 
 
IN-BREEDING OUT-CROSSING. 55 
 
 brothers, The Drone and Van Amburgh, deserve a place in 
 that select company. 
 
 Pericles' solitary claim to consideration consists in having 
 got Harriet (Plenipotentiary's dam), but that is not sufficient. 
 
 Blue Gown's career as a sire cannot be said quite finished, 
 since, although himself at the bottom of the sea, his last direct 
 descendants have not yet appeared on the turf. Of his sons, 
 Vitus and Blue Rock, good performers in Germany, should be 
 mentioned ; on the whole, however, I believe, by discarding him 
 from the list of shining lights at the stud, I express the opinion 
 of English breeders and owners of racehorses. 
 
 Galopin, Lowlander, and Petrarch are still on their trial ; I 
 shall follow their stud career, as being of paramount interest with 
 regard to the question of in-breeding, with the greatest attention. 
 
 The third category contains twenty-two stallions, of whom 
 Orlando, The Flying Dutchman, Emilius, Weatherbit, Buc- 
 caneer, Blacklock, and Tramp, may be said to be of indis- 
 putable pre-eminence. 
 
 Epirus, although supported by Ephesus and the Derby win- 
 ner Pyrrhus the First only, will, on their account, pass muster ; 
 likewise Pero Gomez, who, as sire of Peregrine, winner of the 
 Two Thousand Guineas, and a great number of other useful 
 horses, deserves credit. 
 
 Knight of the Garter, albeit for the present not largely pat- 
 ronized, must, as the sire of Przedswit and many very service- 
 able horses, be reckoned as a successful stallion. 
 
 Of the four, although not very famous brothers : Windhound, 
 Elthiron, Hobbie Noble, and The Reiver, the first, as the prob- 
 able father of the Derby winner Thormanby, is entitled to a 
 certain amount of recognition ; the second has made himself in 
 France, if not celebrated, at least useful ; the last two, however, 
 are decided failures. 
 
 Cotherstone, Chatham, Oulston, and Argonaut hay not at- 
 tained eminence at the stud, which is the more surprising with 
 regard to Cotherstone, the winner of the Two Thousand Guineas 
 and the Derby in 1843, as he was one of the most successful 
 racehorses that ever trod the turf. 
 
56 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 Macgregor appears to be unable to produce a horse of note. 
 
 Dalham, Isonomy, and Silvio are still in the commencement 
 of their stud career ; Isonomy, however, possessed such excep- 
 tional merit as a racehorse, that of his future the highest ex- 
 pectations seem justified. 
 
 The fourth category embraces twenty-one stallions, to whom 
 no exception can be taken on the score of shortcomings at the 
 stud, though perhaps Plenipotentiary's name may have a better 
 sound than in reality it deserves. 
 
 Economist's chances were but few, yet as Harkaway's sire he 
 has just claims to our respect. 
 
 Lanercost (sire of Van Tromp) and Flatcatcher have pro- 
 duced a great number of good mares ; to the others no ob- 
 jections will, presumably, be raised ; their names speak for 
 themselves. 
 
 Przedswit alone has as yet had no opportunity to prove him- 
 self in his progeny. It may be urged against him, that he is 
 the only horse of note his dam ever produced, yet his descent 
 on both sides from that inexhaustible source of excellence, 
 Marpessa, through two such brilliant channels as Pocahontas 
 and Boarding School Miss, should justify great expectations. 
 
 In the fifth category there are twenty-five stallions, of whom 
 Chamant and Robert the Devil are too young at the stud to be 
 fairly judged. Of the other twenty-three I can point to Cossack 
 and Andover alone as decided failures, even if the latter pro- 
 duced some useful animals like Cramon. It did not, however, 
 require much individual power on the part of the stallion, when 
 mated with a mare like Haricot. Nor has Barn ton, although 
 the sire of Fandango and Ben Webster, on the whole, been of 
 much use at the stud, for which reason I hesitate to place him 
 on the list of successful sires. 
 
 In England, Van Tromp has not made for himself a great 
 name, he has, however, done better in Russia. 
 
 Venison has produced Alarm and Kingston. Paragone is 
 difficult to classify, but his daughter, Paradigm (dam of Lord 
 Lyon and Achievement), and the success he had in Germany, 
 secure him an honorable place. 
 
IN-BREEDING OUT-CROSSING. 
 
 57 
 
 Defence, Pyrrhus the First, and Cowl have made their mark 
 by producing good brood mares, and Alarm, though not having 
 sired any very prominent horses, got many useful animals. The 
 rest, viz., Touchstone, Melbourne, Voltaire, Voltigeur, Ion, Saun- 
 terer, Newminster, Velocipede, Harkaway, Kingston, Scottish 
 Chief, Flibustier, and Sterling, are above discussion. 
 
 The sixth and last category comprises eighteen stallions, of 
 whom Kisber and Lollypop have been too recently trans- 
 ferred to the stud to allow of their merits as stallions being 
 considered. 
 
 The reputations of The Duke (sire of Bertram, and conse- 
 quently grandsire of Robert the Devil), Lord Lyon, Favonius, 
 and Wenlock, may not be sufficiently established, yet should 
 I let three of their number pass as successful. 
 
 Breadalbane gets handsome horses ; his stock, however, with 
 few exceptions, suffer from too great an excitability of temper 
 to bear severe training. To produce racehorses I should, there- 
 fore, not rank him amongst the sires with incontestable claims 
 to recognition. 
 
 Ely is a dead failure at the stud ; the rest, viz., Birdcatcher, 
 West Australian, Stockwell, Rataplan, Savernake, St. Albans, 
 Macaroni, Blair Athol, and Lambton, must be accepted as of 
 undoubted excellence, a certificate of merit I should like to 
 extend to Rustic, in consideration of the manner in which he 
 has availed himself of the few chances offered him. 
 
 By summing up the foregoing remarks in shape of a com- 
 parative table of the successful stallions in their several cate- 
 gories, we arrive at the following result : 
 
 Category. 
 
 s l" 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 Too Young 
 the Stud. 
 
 With parent 
 < ' 
 t tt 
 i tt 
 ( ti 
 t tt 
 
 s one degree removed 
 
 4 
 14 
 22 
 21 
 25 
 18 
 
 1 (?) 
 
 < 
 
 20 
 13 
 
 3 
 3 
 1 
 2 
 2 
 
 two degrees " 
 
 three " " 
 
 four " " 
 
 five " " 
 
 six " . . 
 
58 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 The proportion, accordingly, appears most favorable in the 
 fourth, and, next to it, about equal in the fifth and sixth cate- 
 gories ; on the whole, therefore, in those three, embracing the 
 produces of moderate relationship ; and thence, in the direction 
 of in-breeding, gradually but strikingly lessening. It will, be- 
 sides, be well to bear in mind that in the third category of the 
 twelve stallions classed as successful, several, like Elthiron and 
 Windhound, are rather doubtful. 
 
 From all this it would seem advisable to place most reliance 
 on those stallions who, cceteris paribus, are descended from pa- 
 rents of moderate relationship ; at the same time to be mindful, 
 however, whether in former generations of their pedigree the 
 same strains of blood have already met, in which case the in- 
 breeding would thereby be increased. We thus arrive at the 
 conclusion, that stallions of that degree of affinity in their 
 parents, perhaps with the addition of a category with seven 
 clear removes, are preferable to those who are in-bred or out- 
 crossed. I, at least, should be at a loss to furnish from all the 
 remaining stallions in the stud book, so stately a list as is com- 
 prised in the fourth, fifth, and sixth categories. That the de- 
 gree of relationship alone is insufficient, when kindred strains 
 of blood are united for the purpose of begetting high individual 
 potency, is self-evident : that end can only be attained by using 
 within the chosen families their most prominent members. 
 
 Almost insurmountable difficulties would be encountered in 
 the attempt to compile similar tables for mares ; their number 
 is too great to admit of the possibility of arriving at anything 
 like reliable comparative figures. We must, therefore, confine 
 ourselves to a review of the celebrated matrons and see, whether 
 among them exist many cases of in-breeding, or whether in their 
 sex also the value for stud purposes appears impaired by too 
 close a relationship of their parents. 
 
 Of mares that owe their existence to incestuous breeding, I 
 could find but two that have proved at all successful at the 
 stud, that is to say, have bred winners of big races, viz. : 
 
 1. Juliana, dam of the St. Leger winner Matilda, bred 1810, 
 
IK-BREEDING OUT-CROSSING. 59 
 
 by Gohanna from Platina, both being by Mercury, 
 son of Eclipse. What renders this case still more re- 
 markable is, that both parents of Juliana were out 
 of Herod mares, consequently nearly own brother and 
 sister. 
 
 2. Valentine, dam of the Doncaster Cup winner War Eagle, 
 bred 1832, by Voltaire with his half sister Fisher Lass, 
 both being out of the same mare, bred 1816, by Phan- 
 tom out of an Overton mare. 
 
 Of celebrated mares, whose parents were altogether not more 
 than once removed from their common ancestor, we notice six : 
 
 1. Miss Letty, daughter of Priam, who is strongly in-bred 
 
 to Whiskey; herself in-bred to Orville (dam of 
 Weatherbit). 
 
 2. Knowsley's and General Peel's dam, in-bred to Camel. 
 
 3. Palma, in-bred to Orville (dam of Adventurer). 
 
 4. The Jewel, in-bred to Birdcatcher (dam of Przedswit). 
 
 5. Mandragora, in-bred to Birdcatcher (dam of Mandrake, 
 
 Agility, Apology, etc.). 
 
 6. Mineral, own sister to the foregoing (dam of Wenlock, 
 
 Schwindler, Kisber). 
 
 The extraordinary success at the stud of Mandragora and 
 Mineral is the more noteworthy, as their own brother, The 
 Miner, although himself a much better racehorse, has been of 
 little use as a sire. t 
 
 With parents, twice removed from their common ancestor, we 
 find a greater number of mares of tried excellence, especially : 
 
 1. Marpessa, in-bred to Whiskey (dam of Pocahontas, Board- 
 
 ing School Miss, and Jeremy Diddler). 
 
 2. Idalia, in-bred to Highflyer (dam of Pantaloon). 
 
 3. Necklace, in-bred to Emilius (dam of Macgregor). 
 
 4. Isoline, in-bred to Sir Hercules (dam of Isola Bella, Ison- 
 
 omy's dam, St. Christophe, and Braconnier). 
 
60 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 5. The winner of the Oaks, Feu de Joie, in-bred to Touch- 
 
 stone (dam of Allumette, Hallate, etc.). 
 
 6. Veilchen, in-bred to Touchstone (dam of Vergissmein- 
 
 nicht, dam of Wer Weiss, Wunderhorn, Walhalla, 
 R F. Walpurgis). 
 
 7. Bay Celia, in-bred to Camel (dam of The Earl and The 
 
 Duke). 
 
 8. Elphine, in-bred to Beningbro' (dam of Lambton and 
 
 Warlock). 
 
 9. Finesse, in-bred to Highflyer (dam of Decoy). 
 
 10. Decoy, in-bred to Sir Peter (dam of The Drone, Sleight 
 
 of Hand, Van Amburgh, Legerdemain, Phryne, Flat- 
 catcher). 
 
 11. Legerdemain, in-bred to Peruvian (dam of Toxophilite). 
 
 The latter instance is particularly remarkable, as it seems 
 to corroborate the evidence of Mandragora, Mineral, and The 
 Miner that in-breeding in mares does not influence individual 
 potency in an equally unfavorable degree as in stallions. 
 
 Legerdemain is own sister to Sleight of Hand, The Drone, 
 and Van Amburgh, who proved themselves inferior or useless 
 at the stud ; she herself, on the contrary, produced a horse of 
 the first class, like Toxophilite, and that, too, under very ad- 
 verse circumstances. In order to prevent the frequent re-occur- 
 rence of horsing, she was covered, when not more than three 
 years of age, by Ion, won in the month of October of the same 
 year (1849) the Cesarewitch, slipped her foal the day after, and 
 then remained two years longer in training all of which cer- 
 tainly did not enhance her usefulness at t*he stud. 
 
 A young mare with but two clear removes in-bred, who 
 proved herself a pearl of the first water on the turf, and was 
 in 1881 winner of the One Thousand Guineas and Oaks: 
 
 12. Thebais, in-bred to Touchstone. 
 
 Three clear removes in the descent from their common ances- 
 tor show among others the parents of: 
 
IN-BREEDING OUT-CROSSING. 61 
 
 1. Vulture, in-bred to Buzzard (dam of Orlando). 
 
 2. Peri, in-bred to Eclipse (dam of Sir Hercules). 
 
 3. Seclusion, in-bred to Sultan (dam of the Derby winner 
 
 Hermit). 
 
 4. Languish, in-bred to Sir Peter (dam of the winner of the 
 
 Oaks, Ghuznee). 
 
 5. GruySre, in-bred to Waxy and Penelope (dam of Par- 
 
 mesan). 
 
 6. Mowerina, in-bred to Waxy, own sister to Cotherstone 
 
 (and dam of West Australian, Go-ahead, Old Orange 
 Girl, Baragah, and Westwick). 
 
 A similar case of in-breeding occurs here, as in Mandragora, 
 Mineral, and Legerdemain, compared to The Miner, Sleight of 
 Hand, The Drone, and Van Amburgh. Whereas Cotherstone, 
 a quite exceptional horse on the turf, proves a failure at the 
 stud, his own sister, Mowerina, becomes one of the most cele- 
 brated matrons in the whole Stud Book. Queen Mary might be 
 mentioned here as in-bred to Whalebone, but as it is not beyond 
 all doubt whether Moses is by Whalebone or Seymour, we had 
 better leave her out. 
 
 With regard to future breeding results, it may be of interest 
 to state that that wonder of the world, 
 
 7. Kincsem, in-bred to Slane, also belongs to this category of 
 
 in-bred parents, as well as 
 
 8. Bal Gal, in-bred to Touchstone. 
 
 Of the numerous celebrated matrons, whose parents show four 
 clear removes from their common ancestor, I may mention : 
 
 1. Martha Lynn, on both sides traces back to Sir Peter (dam 
 
 of the Derby winner 1850, Voltigeur, Vortex, Eulogy, 
 Barnton, Maid of Hart, Vivandiere). 
 
 2. Emma, goes back to Eclipse (dam of Mundig, winner of 
 
 the Derby 1835; Cotherstone, winner of the Two Thou- 
 
62 NOTES ON BREEDING RACEHORSES. 
 
 sand Guineas and the Derby 1843; Mowerina, Lady of 
 Silverkeld Well, etc.). 
 
 3. Snowdrop, goes back to Beningbro' (dam of Gemma di 
 
 Vergy). 
 
 4. Canezou, goes back to Sorcerer (dam of Fazzoletto, Bas- 
 
 quine, La Bossue, dam of Boiard). 
 
 5. Ghuznee, daughter of Languish, in-bred to the same Sir 
 
 Peter, goes back to Sir Peter (dam of Meeanee, Storm, 
 Scalade, etc.). 
 
 6. Alice Hawthorn, goes back to Beningbro' (dam of Thor- 
 
 manby, winner of the Derby 1860 ; Oulston, Terrona, 
 Findon, Lady Hawthorn, Sweet Hawthorn). 
 
 7. Phryne, goes back to Waxy. She produced to Pantaloon : 
 
 Elthiron, Windhound, Hobbie Noble, and The Eeiver ; 
 to Melbourne, Rambling Katie and Blanche of Middle- 
 bie ; and to the Flying Dutchman : Katherine Logic. 
 
 About the breeding combinations in respect to Phryne vol- 
 umes might be written. We have seen, that of the mares show- 
 ing in the descent of their parents but two removes from the 
 common ancestor, Finesse, her daughter Decoy and grand- 
 daughter Legerdemain, are in that strong degree in-bred to 
 the three sires Highflyer, Sir Peter, and Peruvian, or grand- 
 father, father and son ; nevertheless, Legerdemain, the offspring 
 of threefold in-breeding, when mated with a stallion of a quite 
 different strain of blood, breeds a horse of the first class, like 
 Toxophilite; and her dam Decoy, a produce of twofold in- 
 breeding, with Pantaloon (from herself only twice removed), 
 four such good animals as Sleight of Hand, The Drone, Van 
 Amburgh, and Legerdemain. Fortunately, for a comparison, 
 Decoy was also mated with Touchstone, with whom she stands 
 (four degrees removed from Waxy) in moderate relationship, 
 and, behold, produced Flatcatcher, winner of the Two Thou- 
 sand Guineas and sire of numerous excellent brood mares, and 
 Phryne, one of the most valuable pearls of the whole Stud Book. 
 Decoy must assuredly have been a mare of enormous individual 
 potency, to be able to produce six animals of the quality, of one 
 
IN-BREEDING OUT-CROSSING. 63 
 
 description or another, of The Drone, Sleight of Hand, Van 
 Amburgh, Legerdemain, Flatcatcher, and Phryne, but no doubt 
 can be entertained as to the incomparably higher value of the 
 two last, produced within moderate relationship, than of the 
 other four, the offsprings of close in-breeding. 
 
 All these investigations and comparisons seem to point, I 
 should say, to the fact that in-breeding in mares, even if once 
 or twice repeated, need not render us absolutely distrustful as 
 to their value at the stud; that, however, on the whole, the 
 mating of the best individuals within the chosen families, mod- 
 erately related, is preferable for the production of brood mares 
 as well as stallions, because such mating within the same strains 
 of blood may, as occasion requires, be repeated without danger, 
 as no apprehension of thereby weakening the constitution need 
 be entertained. 
 
 It is evident, however, that the observance of this principle, 
 if continued ad infinitum, also is not without danger to the 
 lasting prosperity of the breed, for the more frequently the 
 mating of animals, standing to one another in even a mod- 
 erate degree of kin only, is resorted to, the more will gradually 
 become the in-breeding in the whole species of thoroughbreds, 
 necessitating, at perhaps a not far distant period, the infusion 
 of new blood by occasionally importing into England sires of 
 pre-eminence from other countries. 
 
 Experience points to America as the source from which to 
 draw in future the regenerating fluid ; for although the Amer- 
 ican thoroughbred takes its origin from England, and is still, 
 more or less, related to its English prototype, the exterior ap- 
 pearance and the more recently shown superiority of American 
 horses lead to the conclusion that the evidently favorable cli- 
 mate and the, to a great extent, virgin soil of America in 
 every respect different from ours gradually restore the whole 
 nature of the horse to its pristine vigor, and make the American 
 race appear eminently qualified to exercise an invigorating in- 
 fluence on the constitution of the thoroughbred in the mother 
 country, enfeebled, perhaps, by oft repeated in-breeding. 
 
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