CHAPTER IX 



THE FRENCH COACH 



Horse racing in France dates back several centuries. It is said 

 that racing was practiced in 1323 under Charles le Bel and even 

 earlier. Systematic attempts to improve the racing horse began 

 during the reign of Louis XIV, in the latter part of the seven- 

 teenth century. Colbert, one of the ministers of Louis XIV, 



FIG. 25. A corner of the stable yard of M. Gaston Fanet, Fontaine-Henry, 



Calvados, France, in the French Coach country. The wall ornaments are 



medals indicating prizes won at shows; such medals often decorate French 



stables. From photograph by the author 



founded the " Administration des Haras." During these early 

 days more or less horse racing was engaged in, but in no per- 

 sistent form. French horses were taken to England between 1775 

 and 1790 and raced on the turf by French owners. The French 

 saw the merit of the English Thoroughbreds, and along in this 

 period they began to buy and send them to France for both 

 breeding and racing purposes. Several of the sires taken to 



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