BRITISH TURF. 21 



opinion of Zeno was certainly wrong, as he held 

 there was no such thing as motion, and that it 

 was impossible to reach the goal." 



Drayton the poet testifies to the correctness 

 of this account, which is the earliest to be found 

 of racing in this country. Fitzstephen does 

 not say whether prizes or money were run for 

 in these races ; or whether it was merely to 

 show off the paces of horses to the buyers, 

 (Smithfield being at that day the market for the 

 best, as well as the inferior sorts of horses) ; but 

 we are inclined to think that, if not exactly at 

 the period he writes of, a very short time elapsed 

 before matches for considerable sums were run 

 for; as we find in the next reign, that of Richard 

 I, a match, for what was a very large sum in 

 those days, is spoken of in the old metrical 

 romance of Sir Bevis of Stamp ton. ^ 



" In somer in Whitsuntide, 



When knights most on horseback ryde, 

 A courselet they make on a day. 

 Steeds and palfraye for to essaye 

 Whiche horse that best may run. 

 Three miles the course was then. 

 Who that might ryde him shoulde 

 Stave forty pounds of redy golde " 



* Sir Bevis of Stampton, black letter, printed by Wm. Cop- 

 land, Garrick's collection, K. vol. ix. 



