17 



In 1640, races were held at New Market, and in Hyde Park, near Lon- 

 don. 



Cromwell did not deem it inconsistent with bis religious profession 

 and rigid observances, nor incompatible with the highest official digni- 

 ties, to own and to encourage a good breed of horses — even he, when 

 Lord Protector of England, had his thorough -breds. His stud groom, 

 a man by the name of Place, was It prominent character in those days. 

 The oldest of our pedigrees end with that of White Turk, one of Crom- 

 well's stallions ; and he owned a famous mare, called '• The Coffin mare^'' 

 from her being concealed in a vault, during the sf^arch for his effects at 

 the time of the Restoration. 



White Turk got the old Thornton mare, (dam of the Fen mare ;) also, 

 he got Commoner, Wormwood, &c. He, also, got the great grandam 

 of Old Scar, Wyndham, Crutches, Old Cartouch and several others. 



It is quite evident that racing was in great favor in the reign of the 

 Second Charles, Tlie king frequently attended the races at New Mar- 

 ket, and other popular Courses, to see his own horses run, which were 

 always entered in liis own name ; and we find the prizes contended for 

 becoming more valuable; and for the first time, various pieces of silver 

 plate, cups, &;c., offered, to be run for. 



For many seasons, a golden hell had been the usual prize, but Charles 

 the Second substituted silver boivls or cups, as trophies of victory ! 



Besides being on the Turf himself, King Charles did 



" The State some service, and they knew it," 



by breeding race hordes, having imported marcs fi'om Barbary, and other 

 parts. 



He sent abroad his Master of the Horse, (who was said by some to be 

 Sir Christopher Wyville, and by others to be Sir John Fenwick,) to make 

 a proper selection of mares, which, on their arrival in England, as, also, 

 several of their oflspring, purely of foreign blood, were called " Royal 

 mares''' — noted as such in the Stud Book to this day. One of these 

 mares was the dam of Dodsworth, bred by King Charles, and said to be 

 the earliest race horse we have on record, whose pedigree can be prop- 

 erly authenticated. 



Dodsworth, though foaled in England, was a natural Barb — he was 

 got before his dam left Barbary. This mare was sold by the Stud Mas- 

 ter at the death of King Charles, being then 20 years old, for 40 guineas, 

 and was then in foal of Vixen, by the Holderness Turk. Dodsworth cov 

 ered several well-bred mares, and produced some good stock. 



Holderness Turk, called after the Earl of Holderness, got the J^tump 



