HORSE-RACING IN ENGLAND 



deteriorate rather than improve the breed of 

 horses.' For who was Hkely to import ' sons of 

 the desert ' at great cost, or to give the long 

 price required for good horses that could not win 

 more than ^lo at one time ? The mistake was 

 seen before long, insomuch that the Legislature 

 sought to apply a remedy by the statute of 

 13 Geo. II., c. 19, which 'prohibited any horse- 

 race being run except at Newmarket and Black 

 Hambleton in Yorkshire, for any prize of less 

 value than ^50,' Howbeit there had been 

 founded, as early as 1 681, at Farndon, Cheshire, 

 two annual prizes, which, whatever their amount, 

 were ' free from the influence of Parliament ' ; 

 and there were other annual prizes (notably one 

 of sixteen guineas only, founded by some fox- 

 hunting gentlemen, to be run for in March of 

 every year, and tlierefore regarded with interest 

 as an early test of ' form,' at Kipling-Coates, 

 Yorkshire) which also are understood to have 

 enjoyed the like immunity. It was in this reign 

 that Mr. Brewster Darley, of Aldby Park, near 

 York, became possessed of the Darley Arabian, 

 whose influence has become paramount among 

 the pedigrees. 



