CHAPTER IV 



Arrival of the Byerley Turk — Roman Catholics forbidden to own 

 a horse worth over £5 — Henry Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, on the 

 manners of the age — King William III.'s death due to a 

 riding accident — The Duke of Cumberland's breeding establish- 

 ment in Queen Anne's reign — Arrival of the Darley Arabian — The 

 Godolphin Arabian — Royal Ascot inaugurated by Queen Anne — 

 " Docking " and " cropping " condemned by Queen Anne ; attempt 

 to suppress these practices — The story of Eclipse — Some horses of 

 romance — Copenhagen and Marengo 



' I v HOUGH James II. strove to emulate to 

 some extent the example set by his light- 

 hearted predecessor on England's throne, he 

 failed almost from the outset to achieve popularity 

 in any marked degree. More partial to hunting 

 than to racing, during his brief reign he neverthe- 

 less gave his support to the Turf and strove to 

 encourage the breeding of blood stock. His 

 interest in the chase, however, evaporated almost 

 completely as he became more and more engrossed 

 in the affairs of state. 



Whether or no James II. was a finished horse- 

 man does not appear, but it may be there is a 

 hidden significance in the statement to be found 

 in several histories that he was " the only crowned 

 head known to have had a surgeon to attend him 

 in the hunting field." 

 261 



