ENGLISH AND COSSACK RACERS. 25 



shapes — although, but for the stimulus given by 

 racing, this knowledge would have been compara- 

 tively in its infancy — the horse has arrived at the 

 highest state of perfection of which his nature is 

 capable ; and in whatever country and in whatever 

 climate his racing powers are put to the test, he 

 has scarcely found a rival, excepting under very 

 disadvantaofeous circumstances. It is true, his 

 lasting qualities were doubted, and he was chal- 

 lenged to rebut the charge ; and the following was 

 the result. On the 4th of August 1825, two 

 second-rate English racers. Sharper and Mina, 

 contended asjainst the most celebrated Cossack 

 horses from the Don, the Black Sea, and the Ural, 

 in a race of the cruel length of forty-seven miles. 

 At Starting, Sharper and Mina ran away with 

 their riders more than a mile, and up a steep hill, 

 when the latter horse broke down, and pulled up. 

 Half the distance was run in an hour and forty 

 minutes. In the last half, only one of the Cos- 

 sack horses was able to contend with Sharper, 

 who, notwithstanding every foul advantage was 

 taken by changing the weight, and dragging along 

 his opponent by a rope, won his race in gallant 

 style, performing the distance in two hours and 

 forty-eight minutes. At starting, the English 

 horses carried three stone more weight than the 

 Cossacks ; and, during the latter half of the race, 

 the one Cossack who remained in it was ridden by 

 a mere child. 



From the export trade to the Continent of 

 English horses, and particularly those of full blood, 



