PREFACE 



Faulty as it is, this work is the first to establish 

 a Hnk between the prehistoric age of " Horses 

 and Horsemen" and the present time. Other 

 books have been simply branches of equine 

 literature. 



Old and new ideas have been weighed — 

 steering clear of fads and cranks. 



Not only have there been innumerable inter- 

 views and much correspondence with the living, 

 but communications with the dead, by means of 

 the well-penned manuscripts they left as monu- 

 ments of their labours. 



Since the first proofs have been corrected the 

 sad intelligence of the deaths of Mr. Hugh Owen 

 and Mr. Garrett Moore have reached the sporting 

 world. 



The victories of Chevalier Ginistrelli's " Sig- 

 norinetta" by " Chaleureux " out of that mar- 

 vellous mare "Signorina" startled the racing 

 world when the filly won the Derby at lOO to i, 

 which entitled her to rank as an extraordinarily 

 good mare ; especially when she followed this up 

 by winning the Oaks. This took place after my 

 book had gone to press. 



