98 A HISTORT OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



training in the various Royal studs cannot be included here, nor have I yet mentioned 

 some of the most important examples of Eastern blood brought to England during 

 this period, which will be given at the close of this chapter, and which include those 

 invaluable animals, the " Royal Mares." 



Unless the improvement in the home-bred animal had gone on steadily from the 

 time when Richard Prince of Wales raced against FitzAlan, until Charles II. 

 saw his last match at Newmarket, there would not have been any chance whatever 

 for the Eastern blood to do what it did. We had gone as far as our breed would let 

 us. The Eastern stock was equally at a standstill in its own home. But the moment 

 the Godolphin Barb and all his lusty comrades really got to work, the new strain did 

 wonders, because it came in just at the right time. If I have not shown how the 

 home-bred English horse was gradually developed up to the days of Charles II. 

 these early pages have been written in vain ; but if I have done so, it must be 

 evident that he was as much a product of many different strains as was his master. 

 I think the Norman put the finishing touch of breed to our old English nobles. In 

 the same way the Eastern stock put the finishing touch to the English racer. Let us 

 look at this home-bred product a little more closely while he is still in the transition- 

 period of the last days of the Stuarts ; while the power of the Markham Arabian 

 was still unfelt, if it ever existed ; while Place's White Turk and the Helmsley 

 Turk were initiating an influence upon the English breed that was to be imperishable, 

 but was scarcely yet recognised ; while DodswortKs Dam was bringing her immortal 

 progeny to the King's stud, and the Royal Marcs were, like Napoleon's family, 

 " their own ancestors." The names of these early racers are here and there 

 preserved in records of the races which they won or lost, and I have done my best 

 to gather together a few that should never be forgotten by the unprejudiced 

 historian, for these, too, are of the stock which contributed to the finished 

 product. 



In March, 1666, the indefatigable Mr. Elliot of the Bedchamber received forfeit 

 in a match at Newmarket with Lord Mount Garrett, who ran the same horse against 

 the Duke of Buckingham's Spavins, and lost again, but consoled himself by a victory 

 over Mr. May's gelding. At the same meeting the Duke was beaten by Mr. 

 Howard's gelding ; Lord Exeter's Bopeep, trained by the Duke of Buckingham, beat 

 Lord Oxford's Rainbow, and distanced him ; and a horse named Herring, belonging 

 to one of the Lancashire Townleys, beat Lord Suffolk's Whitcfoot. Here are some 



