ENGLISH THOROUGHBRED 21 



Godolphin was taken from a water cart in Paris and used as a 

 teaser in one of the prominent breeding establishments in England, 

 where he might have died unknown had he not been allowed to 

 cover a mare which the leading stud sire had refused. The prog- 

 eny of this mating was such a noted winner that his sire was 

 thenceforth generously patronized and has become one of the most 

 famous progenitors of them all. 



Among the most noted racers of the eighteenth century were 

 Flying Childers, which in 1 72 1 ran the Beacon Course, 4 miles, 

 I furlong and 1 38 yards, in seven minutes and thirty seconds, 

 carrying nine stone and two pounds, equivalent to an even four 

 miles in four minutes and eight seconds, or one minute and forty- 

 seven seconds to the mile for the entire distance. Flying Childers 

 was esteemed the fastest runner of his day and inasmuch as the 

 record for modern runners, held by Ten Broeck, and made in 

 1 886 in seven minutes and fifteen and three-fourth seconds, — 

 eight seconds slower than the foregoing, — it appears that running 

 speed has not increased in one hundred and eighty-five years, and 

 that the speed limit of that gait was therefore reached almost two 

 centuries ago. 



Matchem, a descendant of Godolphin, ran the Beacon Course 

 in seven minutes and twenty seconds, — ten seconds faster than 

 Flying Childers, carrying nine pounds less weight, which would 

 make the two records of about equal value, and the modern cham- 

 pion still more at a disadvantage by comparison. Matchem was 

 also the sire of 354 winners, whose earnings amounted to over 

 £1 50,000. He himself earned £l 7,000 in the stud. 



Eclipse, foaled during the eclipse in 1 764, of the Darley Ara- 

 bian family, was noted as the unbeaten racer of his day. So 

 invincible was he esteemed that he ended a racing career of sev- 

 enteen months, during which time he won £25,000, by walking 

 over the Newmarket course without a competitor. Retired to the 

 stud, Eclipse begot 334 winners of £16,000. King Herod, 



Dusiy^ hay should be sprinkled with roater when it is fed to the horse. 



