BEGINNINGS OF RACING. 17 



part which was played by some " horses of the 

 East " on Newniarket Heath, when they ran in 

 one or two races, alongside, or rather behind 

 some of our national bred horses. Racing critics 

 have perhaps been rather hurried in coming 

 to a conclusion, they have apparently forgotten 

 that these Eastern animals have not been accus- 

 tomed to do what our horses are trained to 

 accomplish. Although these imported Easterns 

 are not fit to figure on a race-course along- 

 side our English animals, they may yet be- 

 come of value, by invigorating the race-horses 

 of a future day. What has been done before 

 may be done again. As is well known, many 

 good judges are of opinion it is " in-breeding " 

 which is depriving the race-horses of the period 

 of stamina, and that, in consequence, it may prove 

 advantageous once more to resort to the fountain- 

 head. Mr. Blunt, some years ago, brought this 

 matter before the Jockey Club, and he deserves 

 commendation for doing so. His argument was 

 that the speed which characterises the English 

 horses of the turf was developed from Arabian 

 blood, and that we should, in short, begin again 

 to breed from the Arab. 



This idea has been ridiculed by many racing 

 men ; but much that is useful and profitable has 

 been born of ridicule, and there is no reason why 

 the experiment advocated by Mr. Blunt should 

 not be tried, and, moreover, meet with sympathy. 

 Who can tell what the result might prove to be ? 

 not of course in one year, or even four or five 

 years, but ultimately. Let the blood be given 

 time to tell. The splendid animal, the galloping 

 machine which is now in use, has taken hundreds 



