240 HANDBOOK OF THE TUKF. 



Spin. A spirited dash ; a single effort at high speed ; to 

 " take a spin," is to give the horse a sliort exercise at a fast gait. 



Splint. An inflammation of the shank-bone resulting in 

 small bony swellings. When existing at the time of sale, and 

 the cause of future lameness, a splint is a breach of warranty 

 of soundness. 



Splinter-lbar. [Eng.] The cross-bar of a carriage to 

 which the whipple-tree is attached. 



Spoke. One of the standards of wood or steel which 

 support the rim or felloe of a sulky wheel, from the hub or 

 nave. 



Sponge-out. The act of giving the horse's mouth a 

 bath, or washing, by means of a sponge and cold water. The 

 rules allow helpers to sponge out a horse not oftener than once 

 in five times scoring. 



Sport of King's. Racing has been termed, by all the 

 old writers on the history of the English turf, " the sport of 

 kings " ; and most of the sovereigns from the earliest times to 

 the ascension of Queen Victoria, have been patrons of the turf. 

 Edward II., (Io07-lo27), was particularly fond of horses. 

 Edward III., (1327-1377), bought "running horses" at the 

 price of £160 of the money of the present day. Henry VIII., 

 (1.509-1547), devoted a great deal of attention to improving the 

 breed of horses, and obliged all orders of men to keep a certain 

 number of horses in proportion to their rank and circumstances. 

 Edward VI., (1547-1553), was the first sovereign to make the 

 stealing of horses a capital offence. James I., (1603-1625), 

 was a great lover of horses, was the originator of regulations 

 relating to horse racing, and, indeed, has been called the 

 " father of the English turf." During his reign the former 

 crude methods of racing, without system, with no description 

 oi the horse being given, gave place to more scientific, accurate, 

 and satisfactory trials. The horses were prepared for run- 

 ning by the discipline of food, physic, airing, sweating and 

 clothing ; the weights to be carried and the weights of riders 

 w^ere adjusted ; the courses were measured, and flat racing was 

 introduced. He built great stables at Newmarket, near the 

 palace, which were afterwards rebuilt by Charles II., and in 

 the middle of this century by the Rothschilds. Henry, Prince 

 of Wales, son of James, cultivated horsemanship with great 

 industry and satisfaction. Charles II., (1660-1685), at the res- 

 toration, honored the Newmarket races with his presence, and 

 established there a mansion for his own use. He was an able 

 and experienced rider, and a competitor at the races, entering 



