Breeding
Along with three other stallions, (Medley, Sharp, and Diomed), Messenger provided the type of foal, both filly and colt, that was needed for the era of long distance (stamina and speed) racing popular in the early days of the American sport.
Messenger was a grey by Mambrino out of an unnamed mare (1774) by Turf. He was inbred to Cade in the third and fourth generations of his pedigree. Mambrino traced straight back to Blaze, the father of trotters. Messenger has crosses to all three of the Thoroughbred foundation sires, particularly Godolphin Arabian. Although his sire was a trotter, Messenger never ran a trot race. While still in England, he started in 16 flat races and won ten of them. Messenger's races, usually less than two and half miles, were mainly "match" races in which the side bets far exceeded the purse.
Messengers appearance gave an impression of solidity and power. He had large and always active ears. Expressive they were, too. A large and bony head; its nose had a decided Roman tendency, the nostrils large and flexible. Large windpipes and short neck, but not coarse or thick. Low withers and round the shoulders heavy and upright. Superior hips and quarters. The bones of the limbs were strong and large. He always stood prompt and upright on all four legs. As a gray, he became lighter with age. He was 15.3 hands high.
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