12 DETERIORATED CONDITION OF 



and continuous selection, not for one quality, 

 but for a fine union of qualities, succeeded for 

 many years in producing both for the turf and 

 for all useful and pleasurable purposes, the 

 best saddle-horses in the world. 



We possess a document which throws some 

 light on the nature of the tasks our earlier 

 horses performed. Their stature so late as 

 1764 seems to have ranged from fourteen to 

 fifteen hands ; a horse of the latter height 

 being considered tall. 



The late Mr. Smith, in his work on " Breed- 

 ing for the Turf," refers to a document which 

 shows the nature of the tasks performed at 

 Newmarket from 1718 to 1764, but it is only 

 from the first period to 1757 that the distances 

 run are always mentioned, while the weight 

 carried is often omitted. 



Referring to this document, Mr. Smith says, 

 " It appears that in the year 1718, twenty- 

 three matches were made at Newmarket, and 

 in all but one of them, the distance run was 

 four miles. In the next year only two races 

 are recorded. First, the Duke of Wharton's 

 Galloway, 8st. 101b., against Lord Hillsbo- 

 rough's Fiddler, 12st, six miles. At New- 



