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jockies, and breaking away, ran foul of every thing in their reach, 

 to the imminent risk of destruction to themselves, and all around. 

 Doubtless the sage intent of this branch of Horse-religion, the fear of 

 the divine Taraxippus, -was as a test or proof of the courage and steadi- 

 ness of the Horses, or more properly a check upon the candidates, who 

 could with safety, bring none to th3 post, but such as were susceptible 

 of that high degree of discipline, as not to be aftrighted by the most 

 terrific sights, or suffer their obedience to be shaken under the most 

 trying circumstances : and this principle was, as far as practicable, in- 

 variably adhered to in the choice of Horses for war. 



As to the croud of spectators at these games, they Avere dispersed 

 on all sides, as at a modern race, being prevented from breaking in 

 upon the racers, by the course being roped all round with a large and 

 substantial rope or cable. Stands or stations were erected, as at pre- 

 sent, upon the most convenient part of the ground, for the judges, and 

 for distinguished persons. 



Nearly in the centre of the prow, or barrier, stood an altar, on which 

 were placed a brazen eagle with extended wings, sacred to Jupiter, the 

 patron god of the Olympic games; and also a dolphin of brass, dedicated 

 to Neptune, the acknowledged creator of the Horse. By a mechani- 

 cal contrivance, and being put in motion by the president or regulator 

 of the games, the eagle Avould suddenly ascend to such an altitude in 

 the air, as to be a visible signal to all the spectators; at the same instant 

 the dolphin vanished, sinking under the earth. This was the signal for 

 the Horses and chariots to advance to the post, whence they were 

 started by sound of trumpet. 



Little more of the arrangements of these races has come down to us, 

 than that the Horses were divided into two classes of young and full- 

 aged, and that there were occasionally separate prizes for Horses and 

 mares. There was a race for mares styled Calpe, in which historians 

 gravely tell us, that it was the custom for the jockies, as they approached 

 the ending post, to leap from the backs of the mares, and, keeping the 

 bridle in hand, to run in with them! No great proof surely, of 

 the speed of the ancient racers. The riders styled anabata always rode 

 Horses. Whether the ancients understood the effect of weight upon 



the 



