ENGLISH VERSUS ARAB THOROUGHBREDS 25 



English and Arab horses is thus noticed in Bell's Life 

 of March 20, 1853: 



' About two years ago there was a great talk 

 about a challenge given by Abbas Pasha to the 

 Jockey Club to run his Arab against anything they 

 could bring out from England, and for any amount ; 

 and a great difference of opinion existed among sport- 

 ing men as to the probable result of a long race over 

 uneven ground. The Jockey Club refused to run, 

 and the match has remained an uncertainty ever 

 since. Lately, however, a trial was made by an Eng- 

 lish half-bred mare, by Touchstone, against two of 

 the best Arabs in this place, their own terms being 

 granted, say, three miles on a straight unequal road, 

 equal weight ten stone upwards ; and I am happy 

 to tell you that the mare had it all her own way, 

 winning in a canter, without having been pressed at 

 all. The first half-mile was up a stiff hill, then 

 down a gully quarter of a mile with a mile of 

 level bad road, many parts under water, and the 

 wind up, heavy sand and rising ground ; distance, 

 exactly three miles, and run *in 7 min. 40 sec. The 

 fact of this mare never having been intended to run 

 a race in England will show what chance an Arab 

 would have had with a thoroughbred or a steeple- 

 chaser. But, to put the question at rest, Mr. Smart, 

 the spirited owner of the mare, has accepted another 

 race with an Arab belonging to his Highness Said 

 Pasha ; and, as this horse has beat everything he has 



