RACE HORSES. 43 



CHILDERS KING HEROD. 



Ils T a late number of the Sporting Magazine, it is regretted by an Amateur, 

 that so little attention has been paid to the preservation of the portraits of those 

 famous Racers of former times, the progenitors of those which figure upon the 

 Turf at the present day. And not only on the score of that sensibility and interest 

 of recollection merely, which it might be supposed would be excited in the minds 

 of men, to all appearance so warmly attached to the horse, and to the delights of 

 the Turf, but also for the superior views of improvement in the science of breeding, 

 which cannot be better directed than by a reference to the figure and conformation 

 of those originals, as they may be styled, which were of the highest form and 

 repute, whether as Racers, Stallions, or Brood Mares. The circumstance is 

 curious, that whilst we are thus utterly neglecting the portraiture of our old 

 national favourites, and suffering them to rot in dust and damps of the attics and 

 cellars of the residences of our highest-bred Sportsmen, and even in those of New- 

 market itself, the German Breeders are collecting, with the utmost solicitude, all 

 the portraits they can find in their visits to this country ; and among them are to be 

 found the most ample collections of old English Racers. They have expressed great 

 surprise and disappointment at the impossibility of obtaining any of a date anterior to 

 Bay, Bolton, and the Devonshire Childers, that of Place's White Turk excepted ; and 

 we must acknowledge our surprise is no less, and that we would be content either to 

 ride or W 7 alk over a long course, in order to enjoy the hobby-horsical delight of 

 viewing- a series of Turf Portraits, from the reign of James the First to that of Anne. 



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We should gloat over the resemblance upon canvas, of the Plelmsley Turk, the Old 

 Morocco Barb, Dodsworth, Spanker, Commoner by the White Turk, the Byerley 

 Turk, the Darley and Alcock Arabians, Old Merlin, Dragon, and numerous others 

 of our " terrible, terrible" high-bred Racers of past times, whose likenesses even 

 are defunct, and gone for ever as well as the originals. 



As a poor apology for this tasteless negligence, the miserable execution of the old 

 portraits is urged, doubtless, with truth enough, as far as the delicacies of science 

 are concerned, which however extended sufficiently far to produce a correct 

 likeness, the main object. Of this, the various portraits of the Devonshire Childers 

 form ample proof. There is a drawing of him in his gallop, particularly well 

 executed ; and this which we exhibit, a copy by Sartorius of Seymour's original, 

 was remarked many years ago, by the Yorkshire Sportsmen who knew the horse, 

 to be a most perfect copy of the life, in form, action, and countenance. He was a 



