THE HORSE. 49 



foreign importations was resorted to in 

 order to effect the creation of horses, 

 " who looked as though the speed of 

 thought 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 minds 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 n. 



the first great 



distinguished patrons the turf has ever ^e P turf? r f J 

 known. . He established the course at 

 Newmarket, built a palace and stables 

 there, organised the meeting at Datchet 

 Mead near Windsor, and was, during his 

 reign, the largest single handed im- 

 porter of Oriental horses. 



4 



