Captain W. Tower Townshend, Derry, Roscarberry, co. Cork, writes as
follows: I have just read with much interest your article on “The
Thoroughbred,” in BAILY’S for February, which any man who has
endeavoured to breed a good all-round thoroughbred must agree with, save
that your correspondent does not include change of soil and air—to my
mind a powerful factor in improving the race of pure-bred horses. We see
during the last racing year what Irish-bred horses have done on the
English Turf, and I need not tell you we have not a tithe of the
fashionable blood over here that you have in England. While the late
Duke of Westminster’s celebrated Bend Or was alive, the “Special
Commissioner” of the _Sportsman_ was constantly advocating that he
should be sent to Ireland, when he predicted he would probably have
sired another Ormond. I have no doubt, judging from my own experience,
had the Duke done as the _Sportsman_ advised, he would have done so.
Some years ago I imported Town Moor, by Doncaster—Euxine, who, you will
remember, ran third in Iroquois’ Derby, and then stood in the Queen’s
stud at Hampton Court, where he got every chance with the very best
mares, but never got any horse of exceptional merit. But during his
first season in this country, when an old horse of 18 years, with the
slenderest of chances, he bred Gogo to Endocia,[12] a mare belonging to
Lord Fermoy, that was generally acknowledged to be the best two-year-old
in Ireland. Town Moor unfortunately died two years after reaching these
shores, or no doubt after Gogo’s fame there would have been a great run
on his services. I wish more of the big English breeders could be
persuaded to send brood mares over here, and try the experiment of a
complete change. I am convinced it would tell most advantageously on the
vigour and stoutness of the coming young stock, as both the climate and
soil of Ireland seem fitted by Nature for horse-breeding; the winters
being so mild the mares can be left out all day and night till they
foal, and the best of grass can be hired far cheaper than it can in
England.