4'4 



A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



distance. The bio- colt by Blair At hoi out of Eastern Princess was a marvellous 

 mover for his size, but should never have been asked to go a yard further than the 



Rowley Mile. 



It was no later than 1740 before what may be described as pony-racing was made 

 illeo-al. In 1758 Herod was fifteen hands three inches. In 1764 Eclipse was over 

 fifteen hands two inches ; and if Jupiter (1774) may be taken to reduce the balance 

 with fifteen hands one inch, or Gimcrack with just over fourteen hands, there is Magog 

 to correct the figures again, who was considered a giant because he stood sixteen 



By permission of the Duke 

 of Westminster. 



Touchstone'' <it flic Stiui. 



hands in 1778. In fact, as soon as the imported Eastern horse had become 

 accustomed to the best climate in the world for horses, he undoubtedly increased 

 in size from his usual height of fourteen hands two inches and thereabouts. 

 He was mated to a larger stamp of native breed, produced by the process I 

 have sketched in earlier chapters. The result could never be anticipated with 

 certainty as far as size alone was concerned. There was a time when a big- 

 horse was the only thing a trainer cared about. There has also been a time when 

 bloodlike quality has threatened to degenerate into a somewhat effeminate and 



