TYPES OF ARABIAN HORSES. 59 



bred mares, or even with an Arabian mare sent 

 with them." 



What a royal present! But was not this neglected 

 opportunity much to be deplored? 



" It was a national mistake, for the three famous 

 English racers, Herod, Eclipse, and Matchem, from 

 whom all modern horses are descended, were only 

 half-bred; got by half-bred sires from half-bred 

 dams, which proves only too conclusively that the 

 English racer is not the 'true son of Arabia Deserta. ' 

 Subsequently the arrival in England of Betty Leedes 

 and Darley Arabian, the sire and dam of Flying 

 Childers, caused such a furor^ that the nobility and 

 landed gentry vied with each other for their posses- 

 sion, and for years after the Yorkshire horses were 

 invincible. " 



