MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. 127 



is not known more certainly than that of Spark. Frederic, 

 Prince of Wales, however, who gave him to Lord Baltimore, died 

 himself in 1751, by which one may conjecture his importation 

 to have occurred previously to that date. The circumstances of 

 the gift speak well for the character of the horse, who was pro- 

 bably in a high form as a racer, since royal donors are not wont 

 to make worthless donations. 



About the year 1750, Colonel Tasker imported into Mary- 

 land the celebrated English mare Selima, a daughter of the Go- 

 dolphin Arabian, one of the most distinguished mares that ever 

 ran in America, and progenitrix through Kockingham, Mark 

 Antony, and many others, of half the best and most fashionable 

 blood in America. In December, 1752, Col, Tasker won a 

 'sweepstakes with that mare at Gloucester, Yirginia, beating 

 Col. Byrd's renowned horse Tryall — by, imported, Morton's Tra- 

 veller, out of Blazella by Blaze, out of Jenny Cameron by Quiet 

 Cuddy, son of Fox out of Castaway mare — Colonel Taylor's 

 Jenny Cameron, and a mare of Colonel Thornton's, for a sweep- 

 stakes of four miles, for 500 pistoles. After this time, it appears 

 to have been considered part of the duty of a governor of Mary- 

 land to keep a racing stud ; as, succeeding Governor Ogle, the 

 importer of these famous animals, Governors Eidgely, Wright, 

 Lloyd, and Sprigg, were all determined turfmen and supporters 

 of the American racing interest. 



l^early about the same time, there were imported into Yir- 

 ginia, Kouth's Crab, by old Crab, dam by Counsellor, daughter 

 of Coneyskins, supposed to be in or about 1745. Li 1747, Mon- 

 key, by the Lonsdale Bay Arabian, dam by Curwen's Bay Barb, 

 daughter of the Byerly Turk and a Koyal mare. He was 22 

 years old when imported, but left good stock. In 1748, Eoger 

 of the Yale, afterwards known as Jolly Eoger, by Roundhead, 

 out of a partner mare. Woodcock, Croft's Bay Barb, Dickey 

 Pierson, out of a Barb mare. Roundhead was by Flying Chil- 

 ders, out of Roxana, dam of Lath and Cade, by the Bald Gallo- 

 way, out of a daughter to the Acaster Turk. Woodcock was by 

 Merlin, out of a daughter of Brimmer. Dickey Pierson by the 

 Dodsworth Barb out of the Burton Barb mare. 



In about 1764, was imported Fearnought, got by Regulus 

 out of Silvertail by Whitenose, grand-dam by Rattle, great 



