82 THE TURF 



One of the heaviest matches of former or 

 of present days was run at Newmarket, in 

 1764, between his royal highnesses famous 

 horse, King Herod, as he was then called, 

 and the late Duke of Grafton's Antinous, 

 by Blank, over the Beacon course, for one 

 thousand pounds a side, and won by Herod 

 by half a neck. Upwards of one hundred 

 thousand pounds were depending on this 

 event, and the interest created by it was 

 immense. His royal highness was likewise 

 the founder of the Ascot race meeting, now 

 allowed to be only second to Newmarket. 



In point of judgment in racing, Mr. 

 O'Kelly was undoubtedly the first man of 

 his day ; although, were he to appear at the 

 present time, it is admitted that he would 

 have a good deal to learn. For example, 

 his suffering Eclipse to distance his com- 

 petitors, in a race for a bet, would be con- 

 sidered the act of a novice. As a breeder, 

 however, he became unequalled ; and from 

 the blood of his Volunteer and Dungannon, 

 in particular, the turf derived signal ad- 

 vantage. Both were got by Eclipse, who 

 was the sire of no less than one hundred 

 and sixty winners, many of them the best 



