2 5 



More than 20 years after Darley's Arab, and after the value of the 

 Arabian blood had been generally recognized, G-oddolphin possessed a 

 stallion of peculiar conformation. He was called an Arab but was in 

 reality a Barbe. Only after the birth of Lath, one of the best horses of 

 the period, his excellent qualities were appreciated. He died in 1759, at the 

 age of 29 years. 



In the beginning of the 18th century, horse races were instituted in 

 almost every large city in England. The contests were chiefly between 

 full grown horses. These races were of a kind, which required both 

 speed and endurance and the true value of the horse became thereby 

 apparent, which added to the improvement of the breed. 



The distance as a rule was three or four miles and occasionally more, 

 and evidence of remarkable speed was shown as well as in the mile and 

 one-half races of to-day. 



The author of a very interesting treatise, comparing the Knglish 

 race and saddle horse of the past century, with that of the present, 

 speaks of a horse "Exotic" -which appeared on the course for eleven 

 consecutive years. In the seventh year it won a race at Peterborough 

 consisting of four heats at four miles each. 



What are the race horses of to-day ? They are indisputably faster, 

 they are longer, lighter in build and yet muscular they are creatures, 

 as beautiful as one would care to see, but the majority of them are ex- 

 hausted when the first half of the course is run and of fifteen or more 

 starters, only two or three come under the wire in possession of their 

 full vigor ; and what becomes of them after the race ? After a hard run, 

 as the races of former days are now called, the horses came in none the 

 worse for their exertions, and year after year they were in condition 

 to start. But now, a single race as the Derby, is apt to disable the 

 victor, occasionally forever, and yet the course is but one mile and a 

 half. The St. Leger is still more dangerous, although the distance is 

 not two miles. The race is over, a f ew large bets have been won by the 

 owner of the animal and the latter, whose performance accomplished 

 the victory, is led away with beaten flanks, bleeding sides and sprung 

 tendons, perhaps never to be heard of again. It has answered the pur- 

 pose for which it was raised, and that it is sufficient! 



AYfiat has prompted honest and sensible persons to change the 

 character of the Knglish race horse and with it the English horse in gen- 

 eral, to such disadvantage? It is not simply the natural course of 

 events, which has brought it about. At the beginning of the past 

 centtiry and even until later race horses were beautiful and powerful 

 animals, with almost as much speed as could be desired and an endur- 

 ance, which was not easily exhausted. These horses were bred not 

 only with a view of satisfying the expectations of the owner on the 

 race course, but even if his hopes were not realized, he consoled himself 

 with having raised an animal, valuable to the country. Later the 

 demand on speed increased steadily ; certainly at the expense of 

 strength and endurance. Horses were bred only to win races. The re- 



