 Porter was interested in reforming the sport of horse racing , and expended much effort in the newspaper trying to bring together horsemen in the various parts of the country . Although the effort did not bear fruit , the Spirit became a repository for information of interest to those involved in horse racing , printing statistics and results of races . Porter was also involved in attempts to publish an American stud book for race horses in the United States , similar to the General Stud Book that was published in England documenting the pedigrees of Thoroughbred horses . In February 1837 , Porter announced in the Spirit the projected coverage of the project , which was to be edited by Wiley Jones Stratton , who was secretary to the National Jockey Club in Washington , D. C. But this project never materialized , and Porter turned to Patrick Nesbitt Edgar in January 1838 to take over the project . But Edgar did not finish the work , and by 1842 , the project was abandoned . 
