454 CHAPTER CO. 



only were imported at the date at which our stud book commences, and 

 their produce out of certain mares, called the Royal mares, which had 

 been collected by the King during the latter half of the (seventeenth 

 century, both from home and from foreign countries, constitute what is 

 now called our " thorough-bred " stock. It will be seen, therefore, that 

 the name is in some degree a misnomer. 



Careful breeding and high feeding have, however, developed a race of 

 horses, with which the real thorough-bred, i. e. the produce of the Arabian 

 sire and dam, cannot at present compete on the turf. On the other 

 hand, it must be remembered that the pure high caste Arab does not 

 measure over 14-3 hands. What might be the result if the Arab were 

 in the course of years by careful breeding and early good feeding de- 

 veloped to the size of the English thorough-bred the Author cannot say. 



This experiment is now being tried by Mr Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, of 

 Crabbet Park, Three Bridges, Sussex. Mr. Blunt has imported the very 

 best Arab sires and dams ; and every lover of the horse will rejoice if his 

 spirited endeavour results in increasing the bone, stamina, and endurance 

 of our English breed of horses. Mr. Blunt's experience so far has been 

 that it is difficult to increase greatly the height of the English-bred Arab 

 without losing something of the original type and quality. He is of 

 opinion that 14*3 or 15 hands will long remain the maximum height in 

 pure-bred English Arabs, though their power and endurance may be 

 indefinitely improved by selection and better feeding. 



Best Arab time 1 mile 1874, Madras, Lucifer, 10 st. 2 lb., 1 minute 

 52 seconds. 1877, Calcutta, Saracen, 9 st., 1 minute 50J seconds. For 

 "2 miles, Calcutta, Sherwood, 10 st. 2 lb., 3 minutes 49 seconds. 



Best Derby time, 1887, Merry Hampto-n, 2 minutes 43 seconds ; 1888, 

 Ayrshire, 2 minutes 43 seconds. Best Oaks time, 1892, La Fleche, 

 2 minutes 43 1-5 seconds. Course, 1J miles and 29 yards. Hilly and not 

 good for time. 



Sandown Eclipse Stakes, 1893, Orme, 10 st. 2 lb., 1J miles, 2 m. 10 s. 



Time is not often taken on the English turf for 1 mile races. The 

 Author has not been able to get any thoroughly reliable statistics, but 

 as far as he can ascertain 1 m. 43 s. is the best time on record for 1 mile. 



Best Steeplechase time is probably 1893, Cloister, 12 st. 7 lb., Grand 

 National, Liverpool, 4J miles, 9 minutes 8 seconds. 



The best Waler (Australian) time, 2 miles, 3 minutes 54 seconds. 



It will be seen from the above that there is not much difference 

 between English and Arab time. But " time " comparison is not alto- 

 gether fair to the English horse. Arab races are run at full speed 

 throughout. This is not the case on the English turf. Something is 

 always reserved for the final struggle. What would be the best possible 

 time of the English horse the Author has not been able to ascertain. The 

 custom of running Arabs at full speed throughout is doubtless due to 

 their great staying power. 



But when the English and Arab horses meet, the former can give the 

 Arab 4 st. or more. The explanation of this curious fact is that the 

 N.B. For latest best English and Indian time see Postscript. 



