THE THOROUGHBRED 19 



resulted in the development of the Thoroughbred, which for two 

 hundred years or more has been bred with considerable purity. 



Three early oriental horses introduced into England during the 

 formative period of the Thoroughbred exercised a most important 

 influence. These were the following : 



1 . The Godolphin Barb, also known as Godolphin Arabian, was 

 probably foaled in Barbary about 1724. Later he found his way 

 to France and for a time was used to haul a water cart. About 

 1728 he was taken to England and presented to Lord Godolphin, 

 who always insisted that the horse was an Arabian. He was used 

 in the stud with great success. His blood contributes in a most 

 important degree to founding the Thoroughbred. 



2. The Byerly Turk, the saddle horse of Captain Byerly, used 

 later in the seventeenth century in the wars of William in Ireland, 

 was probably brought to England in 1689. He was very famous 

 as a sire, and horses descended from him are known as Byerly 

 Turk horses. Of the famous Thoroughbred sires in England a 

 few years ago, sixty are direct descendants of this horse. 



3. The Darley Arabian, supposed to be a pure Maneghi Arabian, 

 was bought at Aleppo, Syria, by Mr. Brewster Darley, as a gift 

 to his brother Mr. John B. Darley of Aldby Park, near York. 

 This horse was brought to England in 1706. He was a dark 

 bay in color, with a blaze on face and white on three feet, and 

 stood about 1 5 hands high. To the Darley Arabian can be traced 

 the choicest of Thoroughbred blood. 



These three oriental horses preceded the development of the 

 Thoroughbred, yet their blood had a most potent influence in 

 establishing the breed which followed. 



Three early English Thoroughbred sires of great prepotency, 

 important in establishing the breed, stand out as really great an- 

 cestors of the modern speed horse. They are the following : 



i. Herod (King Herod). This horse was foaled in 1758 and 

 was bred by the Duke of Cumberland, a brother of George II. 

 He was used on the race course for a time and was then retired 

 to the stud. He is said to have sired four hundred and ninety- 

 seven prize winners on various race courses, and it is estimated 

 that they won for their owners ,201,505, or over one million 

 dollars. Herod was a direct descendant of the Byerly Turk. 



