20 



About twenty years after the Darley Arabian, the Oodolphin Arabian 

 was purcliased for a small sum in France, and sent over to England. 

 Nothing is known with certainty of his 



" Birth, parentage and education," 



although there is no doubt that ho was of the Barbavy breed — his crest 

 ■was of uncommon height, peculiar to the Barb. He was not much ap- 

 preciated, however, until a fortunate circumstance made him the sire of 

 Lath, (out of Roxana.) who grew up to be a horse of great size and beau- 

 ty, and after trial, jiroving himself to be the best horse in PJngland 

 since Flying Childers day. " The Godolphin^'' having thus established 

 his character, he immediately became a very popular stallion, supplied 

 with the best mares in the country. His progeny was very numerous 

 and distinguished — the most noted were Cade, full brother to Lath ; Regu- 

 lus, (thought by many to have been, " take him for all in all," the best 

 son of the Godolphin ;) Babraham, Bajazet, Blank, &e. 



The Godolphin Arabian when brought to England was about four 

 years old. He became the property of Lord Godolphin, (lience his 

 name,) who retained him until his death, which happened in 1753, 

 when he vvas 28. at his owner's seat in Cambridgeshire. 



Li speaking, a little above, of the Darley Arabian, I observed that he 

 got FlyintT Childers, reputed to be the fastest horse in England, that had 

 ever started in a race up to that time, He got, also. Bulk Hock, foaled 

 in 1718 ; and I mention this, because Bulle Rock was one of the early 

 importations into this country. He was imported into Virginia in 1730. 



A great grandson of the Darley Arabian got Eclipse — the Eclipse, 

 known now as Eivjlish Eclipse — without a rival in his two seasons, 

 1769-70. 



Georije the Third, though neither a horseman nor a sportsman, recog- 

 nized and encouraged racing, as a national pastime. Early in his long 

 and eventful reign, the celebrated Eclipse Avas foaled. From this period, 

 it is customary to dote English Racing. The Prince Regent, afteiwaids 

 George the Fourth, delighted in horses, and was a great patron of the 

 Race Course for manv years. Many splendid animals were, year after 

 year, bred and brought before the public;; bi-eeding pursueil upon a co?-- 

 rect svstem of ])hiloso])hy, or rather, as, perhaps, it ought to be said, 

 upon the true principles of physiology. Having thus procured the best 

 of blood by judicious crosses, there was an increased attention given, by 

 skill in training, to put the produce in the best condition, to give it its 

 highest attainable degree of physical power. The necessity of sagacious 

 orders and skilful riding was not overlooked These, with the previous 



