This volume should have made its appearance towards the close of last year but the regrettable death of Bertram Stevens, who had the work in hand, practically suspended matters in connection with its publication. With characteristic energy Mr. Harry Julius took up the work, and it is due to his efforts that the book is now complete. The amount of detail work concerned in bringing out this publication has been very great, and can only be appreciated properly by those like myself who have been connected with Mr. Harry Julius during the time the book was in the press. The scope of the volume as originally planned by the late Bertram Stevens was very much wider than the present book. It was found as the work progressed that the project was too ambitious and the field too large to cover in detail. A general view of the development of Australian racing has been embodied, and the breeding of the racehorse in the Southern Hemisphere lightly touched on. The illustrations, which include some of the best performers of the present day, are devoted mainly to reproductions of pictures painted by Mr. Martin Stainforth. To make a comprehensive list of famous horses, Mr. Stainforth executed a number of paintings especially for the book. Pictures of other horses who have made their names famous on the racecourse or at the stud are also reproduced, and should serve as a valuable record to those interested in the thoroughbred. Delays have been experienced in many cases with the colour reproductions. Many of the original blocks had to be discarded as they failed to accurately record the original colour and detail of line of Martin Stainforth’s pictures. To overcome this a great many of the colour plates were made again. The publishers are indebted to a great many people for their helpful efforts—those who have loaned pictures for reproduction, and the officials of the Australian Jockey Club, Victoria Racing Club and the Rosehill Race Club—in connection with the publication of this book. They have been particularly fortunate in having been able to secure Dr. W. H. Lang to write the bulk of the letterpress. No one is more conversant with the thoroughbred than Dr. Lang, and his literary style speaks for itself. Dr. Stewart McKay has contributed a scientific article which opens up a new train of thought in connection with the racehorse, while others who have lent a helping hand are Messrs. Frank Wilkinson and Tom Willis. Thanks are due to the trustees of the National Art Gallery of N.S.W., Sir Samuel Hordern, Dr. Stewart McKay, Messrs. McEvilly, R. De Mestre, W. A. Crowle, G. F. Rowe, A. J. Morton, Jas. Barden, F. G. White, Norman Falkiner, W. M. Borthwick, J. Campbell Wood, T. A. Stirton, Dr. Herbert Marks, Mrs. H. Gordon, Mrs. Flemmich, Mrs. F. Body, and Mrs. Herbert Marks, for permission to reproduce pictures in their possession. KEN AUSTIN. THE RACEHORSE IN AUSTRALIA