INCREASED SIZE OF THE RACEHORSE. 231 



the latter carries the day. Alep, the Prince of Wales's horse, 

 has gained a tremendous reputation in Egypt, never having 

 been beaten in any of the eighteen races he ran in that 

 country ; and Lord Slrathnairn's Avozval, a half-bred animal 

 with some Arab blood, is not a particularly brilliant speci- 

 men of a racehorse, but was nevertheless easily able to account 

 for the hitherto unconquered Alep" 



After giving the time in which Arabs had run two miles, 

 the writer says in conclusion : — 



" The four-mile race of yesterday was calculated to dis- 

 play the speed and endurance of the Arab, but even against 

 so moderate an animal as Avowal, Alefs efforts were use- 

 less, and the value of English thoroughbred blood is again 

 conclusively demonstrated." 



When we come to consider the size of the thoroughbred 

 we see the same (it may be, questionable) superiority. In the 

 Book Calendar of 1749-50 is a list of stallions and their 

 prices for serving mares, together with laudatory remarks, 

 a few only of which I will notice. One advertisement 

 (abridged) runs thus : " The fine Arabian horse brought over 

 by Mr. Moscow from Constantinople, at three guineas, and 

 half-a-crown the groom. He is near fifteen hands high." 

 Again, Disviau, at the same price, is strongly recommended 

 on account of his great strength and size, being 15 hands 

 high, which appears to have been the extreme height of nine 

 out of ten, whilst the others are described as being very 

 little taller. Now if we contrast with these our horses, 

 many of which are 16 hands and a half and 17 hands 

 high, we shall easily perceive how superior is their size to 

 that of those I have been describing ; whilst the low fee for 

 serving the mares formerly charged, contrasts strongly with 



