CHAPTER IV. 



SPEED AND ENDURANCE CARNIVOROUS HORSES HORSE FLESH 

 AS FOOD HORSE BAITING. 



HE maximum speed of the racehorse 

 appears to be at the rate of a mile in a 

 minute ; for few, if any, horses can retain 

 the full velocity of this rate for even that 

 time. A mile has, however, been run at 

 Newmarket by a stop-watch in one minute 

 and four and a half seconds. It is said, 

 but was never proved, that Flying Childers did run 

 at Newmarket one mile in the minute ; certain it is 

 that this celebrated horse, when carrying nine stone 

 two pounds ran over the round course, which is three 

 miles six furlongs and ninety-three yards, in six 

 minutes and forty seconds. Bay Melton ran four 

 miles at York, in 1763, in seven minutes forty- three 

 seconds and a half. Eclipse also ran the same dis- 

 tance, on the same course, in eight minutes with 

 twelve stone. The most extraordinary instance on 



