THE HOESE. 49 



foreign importations was resorted to in 

 order to effect the creation of horses, 

 " who looked as though the speed of 

 thouo-ht were in their limbs," From 

 such ancestors the British thorough-bred 

 has descended. 



During the civil wars, therefore, the 

 love of horse -racing smouldered in 

 the mmds of Englishmen, but did not 

 break out into full flame until after the 

 Restoration, when it fell to the lot of 

 Charles II. to become one of the most Charles ii. 



the first great 



distinguished patrons the turf has ever tLftrn'r"^^ 

 known. He established the course at 

 Newmarket, built a palace and stables 

 there, organised the meeting at Datchet 

 Mead near Windsor, and Avas, during his 

 reii2:n, the laro;est sino'le handed im- 



porter of Oriental horses. 



4 



