A Racer. 165 



The Arab will run an honest and true horse from end to 

 end ; he stands training for years ; his temper' is so good, 

 a large field can be sent from the post without difficulty 

 the first time. Close finishes, severe struggles, dead 

 heats, and not unfrequently dead heats after dead 

 heats, are the characteristics of Arab racing. Open the 

 pages of the ' Oriental Sporting Magazine,' and almost 

 every start of Arabs is described as being got off in 

 capital order the first time of asking — in the usual way, 

 in fact. Then he is so kind and so generous ! In his 

 compact form is also contained every requisite for com- 

 bined speed and strength — the broad, deep, and swelling 

 chest (the most desirable for rapid progression), length in 

 the right place, length of shoulders, length of quarters, 

 length in his arms, immense power to work the parts of 

 motion, and great nervous energy to excite the power ; 

 and, owing to his true symmetry, he has nothing super- 

 fluous to carry. All these points are more conspicuous 

 and more developed in the Arabian than in any other 

 horse. He has more length in proportion to size, and 

 more power, is a bigger, larger, and far more powerful 

 animal than our thorough-bred, in proportion to size. 

 He does not open his mouth and drop his bit when you 

 ask him to do his best, (It is worthy of consideration 

 whether this trait has not been on the increase the last 

 decade or two.) His heart is all right, and in the right 

 place, which, with his sound constitution and his perfect 

 formation, enables him not only to struggle to the end 

 of his race, but to come out day after day. 



The best criterion we have of the speed of the Arabian 



