12 



A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



necessary to connect Newmarket's ancient love of horses, with the patriotic annals 

 of this country. No doubt some of the horses which had been wild on Exning's 

 immemorial pastures were among those sturdy little British nags which are known to 

 have formed part of the most valued importations in Imperial Rome, not only for 

 chariot-racing, but as cavalry remounts The ponies of Scotland, Wales, and 

 Exmoor were equally appreciated ; and it is fairly certain that the debt was more 



A Roman Charger in /lie Third Century A.D. 



I'roin Ike Cutumna Theodosiana. 



than half unconsciously repaid by the desultory amours of those few Eastern steeds 

 which came over with the more luxurious of the conquerors as the occupation of 

 liritain began to appear permanent and settled. 



As a Southern-born, I regret to have to acknowledge that, in spite of the coins of 

 the Iceni, the first traces of a racing-stable are undoubtedly to be found in Yorkshire, 

 where the Emperor Severus Alexander is proved to have made special arrangements at 

 Netherby for the shelter and training of his delicate Arabs in a cold and unaccustomed 

 climate. Later on, similar practices may be traced at Rushborough, Dorchester, 



