| Horse Breeder's Handbook,
Third Edition, 1895
Containing a history of the Rise and Progress of the British Stud, together with the tabulated pedigrees and full particulars of Thirty Eight of the Most Famous Blood Sires from whom it had it's origin; also introductory comments on the pedigrees and performances of Ninety Four of The Principal Stallions advertised to cover during the Seasons 1895-6 etc., embellished with Portraits of Stockwell, Bendigo, Cabin Boy, Donovan, Kendal, Orme, Ormonde, and St. Simon Jos. Osborne ("Beacon") Forest green cloth covered boards, spine titled gilt, front cover titled gilt with a decorative gilt horse portrait. 216 pgs., tips rubbed, boards scuffed, has been recased, very good. Valuable resource for information on 19th century sires in text and pedigree. Interesting to note the following comments in 1895: "A very interesting and most important controversy is that which concerns the comparison of stamina in the race-horse of the present day with that of his ancestors a half-century ago . . . Champions of the old style and the old flyers tell us that the English racehorse is degenerating; that his speed has been developed very much at the expense of his stamina . . . My own view . . . is that the English thoroughbred has palpably degenerated in stamina from several distinct causes. Prominent among these (independently of the haphazard manner they are now bred) is that which has had direct effect upon their action and their lungs - viz., the undue increase of "sprint" racing, and the style of training for it . . . . in regard to sprint racing two year olds, it has, in fact, become a case of demand and supply and the most influential encouragement is given in that direction which is . . . the most dangerous . . . Another cause of the decline in stoutness and hardihood I take to be the artificial manner in which the youngsters are often prepared for the sale ring, so that they may look well rather than be well . . . " |