36 . HISTORY OF THE 



use of bits instead of snaffles, which were used 

 in the army before that time. 



1653. — Ohver Cromwell, with his accustomed 

 sagacity, perceiving the vast benefit derived to 

 the nation by the improvement of its breed of 

 horses, the natural consequence of racing, pa- 

 tronised this already pecuUarly national amuse- 

 ment ; and we find, accordingly, that he kept a 

 racing stud. Mr. Place, whose name, coupled 

 with that of his horse, the famous white Turk, 

 before alluded to, will live for ever in the 

 memory of all British sportsmen, was Crom- 

 well's master of the stud ; and it is to be deeply 

 regretted that the civil war of that eventful 

 period has prevented us from receiving any 

 records of racing during the Protectorate. An 

 anecdote which has been handed down, of a 

 narrow escape of the Protector, when driving 

 in person four horses in Hyde Park, from their 

 running away and overturning the carriage, 

 when a loaded pistol he always carried about his 

 person went off, would serve to show his fond- 

 ness for equestrian amusements ; at the same 

 time it would appear this great man found it less 

 difficult to keep a whole nation in subjection than 

 to control four horses. 



We now approach that important epoch in 

 the history of the British horse, the reign 



