INTRODUCTION. XIX 



SO dear to the hearts of every one of my people. 

 Neither I nor anybody can be present without call- 

 ing to mind, that here it was that our liberties were 

 obtained and for ever secured, and that we are 

 here to enjoy those liberties and sports which I 

 will, with my utmost power, ever protect and fos- 

 ter^ and, in so doing, never lose sight of the wel- 

 fare and enjoyment of every clasr of my people, 

 from the highest to the lowest." 



We have endeavoured, in these volumes, to give 

 all the most useful and interesting facts and infor- 

 mation connected with the Turf, from its earliest 

 origin, and which now only exist in so dispersed 

 and broken a form, as to be utterly useless to 

 general readers, and difficult of access even to the 

 few whom curiosity might induce to take the 

 trouble, and be at the expense of particular in- 

 quiry. 



At the same time that the reader has before 

 him, the performances, pedigrees, weights, &c. 

 of the celebrated horses of the last century, he will 

 find those of the most modern date, and thus be 

 enabled to draw his own comparison between 

 them. 



As a book of reference, we ^flatter ourselves, he 

 will find in our pages, every description of infor- 

 mation as to facts which he may require, con- 

 nected with racing. On every point we have con- 

 stantly referred, at the expense of much time and 

 labour, to the best authorities, and where an event 



