20 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book I. 



Egfrid, still reigning in Northumberland. It only remains 

 for us to add that in the year 1107 the monastery was con- 

 verted into a bishopric, and in the following year, by consent 

 of the Pope, the episcopal see of Ely was founded, and that 

 from that day to this the cathedral is a prominent landmark, 

 visible from most parts of Newmarket Heath. 



As to the antiquity of the turf in England, Har- 

 grove, in his " History and Description of the Ancient 

 City of York" (vol. i., p. 514), says we may trace the 

 origin of horse-racing far beyond the days of Camden, 

 " even to the time of the Romans." Referring to the 

 races at York, he observes : " We know that the 

 Campos Martios was the place where the illustrious 

 Roman youths performed every kind of exercise 

 peculiar to the age, such as throwing the discus, 

 hurling the javelin, wrestling, etc. ; and where they 

 also practised the diversion of horse-racing and chariot- 

 racing ; hence, if Drake was correct in his idea, we may 

 figure to ourselves the gay scenes which were exhibited, 

 though they are not recorded in the page of history." '" 



It does not come within the scope of this work to 

 minutely trace the nature and variety of all the foreign 

 strains of the equine race introduced and subsequently 



* "'Just within the entrenchments,' says Morton, writing in 1712, 

 ' the whole circuit of the Area, excepting only about a Quarter of a 

 Mile in the Northern part of it, has for several years been a celebrated 

 Course for Horse Races ; which, as it has been measured, and is now 

 usually computed, wants about 28 Yards of Two Miles.'" — "Natural 

 Hist. Northamptonshire." On the preceding Baker observes : — " The 

 Britons were much attached to this diversion. May not this have been 

 one of their Cursus ? Others have been traced on the Wiltshire downs. 

 In modern times the races here were held annually for two, and some- 

 times three days, till the year 1741, when they were practically discon- 

 tinued, though occasionally resumed till the hill was enclosed." — "Hist, 

 and Antq. of the Town and Co. of Northampton," vol. i., p. 347. 



