6 THE TURF 



years past, at any rate, speed rather than stamina has 

 been the object aimed at by breeders ; but there is no 

 sound reason to doubt that the best horses of to-day 

 would gallop the four miles and a quarter (less 43 

 yards, if strict accuracy be demanded) of the Beacon 

 Course at Newmarket at least as speedily as did the 

 horses of any former period. It is not a little strange 

 that, whereas the infusion of Arab blood from the 

 three sires named has made the English racehorse of 

 to-day what he is, the Arab of to-day should be in all 

 respects such a vastly inferior animal. The fact is 

 unquestionable. No weight — and what weight means 

 will be presently considered — will "bring together" 

 the best Arab and the poorest of English horses. 

 This was demonstrated some years ago at Newmarket 

 in a race between Asil and Iambic, between the best 

 Arab of his day and the worst thoroughbred ; for, with 

 a huge advantage in weight for Asil and over a course 

 which was supposed to suit him and to be four times 

 more than Iambic could compass, the latter won in a 

 trot. The value of the Eng^lish thoroughbred is indeed 

 universally recognised, and the whole world supplies 

 itself from England, Europe, America (North and 

 South), India, the Colonies, have each derived their 

 racing stock from this country, and they can only sus- 

 tain it by continuing to draw from the same supply. 



