39 



the value of a hundred guineas, upon which 

 the name and pedigree of the winner was 

 engraved. He also devoted considerable 

 attention to improving the English race- 

 horse ; he sent his Master of Horse abroad 

 to purchase stallions and brood mares, 

 principally Arabs, Barbs and Turkish horses. 

 To these " King's mares," as they were 

 entitled, our modern racehorse traces his 

 descent on the dam's side. 



Charles II.'s love of racing was not 

 satisfied by the meetings at Newmarket, 

 which was not readily accessible from 

 Windsor, and he instituted races on Datchet 

 Mead, within sight of the castle, across the 

 Thames. Here, as at Newmarket, he 

 encouraged the sport by the presentation of 

 cups and bowls. Burford Races owed the 

 prestige they long enjoyed to the encourage- 

 ment of Charles II. in 1681. Political 

 considerations required that public attention 

 should be diverted for the time, if possible, 

 and to secure this end Charles had all his 

 best horses brought from Newmarket for the 

 occasion. 



The only piece of legislation that demands 

 notice is the repeal of the laws against 

 export, which had been on the Statute Book 

 since Henry VII.'s reign. The prohibition 



