356 THE HORSE. 



them Tvith ease carrying enormous weights — he won ten king's 

 pktes with twelve stone, or 168 lbs. on his back — he was never 

 put to liis speed, nor was his time ever kept. 



He was undoubtedly a marvellous animal, both as a racer 

 and in the stud, having begot one hundred and thirty winners, 

 who brought their owners more than £160,000 exclusive of cups, 

 and that, it must be remembered, at a time when great races 

 were few, and the vast prizes of the present day unknown. 



In December, 1786, Mr. Hull's Quibbler ran twenty-three 

 miles round the flat, at Newmarket, in fifty-seven minutes. It 

 does not clearly appear whether this is to be understood as be- 

 ing a straight race, without an intermission, or as an aggregate 

 of heats ; probably, however, it refers to a single unbroken ef- 

 fort. 



If it were done, at heats, the speed would be nothing re- 

 markable, nor the stoutness. 



Twelve miles were made by Henry and Eclipse in 1823, in 

 an aggregate of three heats, in 23m. 50s. over the Union Course ; 

 and twenty miles, in an aggregate of five heats, by Black Maria, 

 beating Lady Belief, Trifle and Slim, in 41m. 40s. 



Considered as a single gallop, it was highly creditable, but 

 when we have seen twenty miles trotted within the hour, we 

 cannot regard it as so extraordinary, nor can we doubt that it 

 could be easily beat, at the present day, by any one of a dozen 

 race-horses on the American or English Turf. 



Thus far, therefore, there are no grounds whatever for be- 

 lieving that tlie modern race-horse has in any sense degener- 

 ated from the worthies of the turf of the olden time, even if 

 we admit, as satisfactorily established — which we are, however, 

 far from doing — the remarkable trials, above cited, disallowing 

 of course the fabulous myths, which have only obtained with 

 the vulgar, and never had the smallest credit with racing men, 

 or others really acquainted with the powers of the horse, of 

 miles run in a minute and the like. 



Supposing Childers to have, in fact, run the Beacon Course 

 in the time stated, or at the rate of four miles in 7m. 19s., and 

 the Round Course in 6m. 42. — which would be at the rate of 

 four miles, in about 7m. 5s. — although the speed would be ex- 

 traordinary, I may say marvellous, even at the extremely low 



