neither prejudice nor deceit have biassed its decision in liotly con- 

 tested struggles as recorded in the Racing Calendar for over two 

 centuries. 



It is this sport that has given the English Thoroughbred a value 

 for breeding purposes unequalled and looked for in vain in any 

 other equine species in the world.^^ 



Referring to the earliest records of racing in South Africa we 

 find that the South African Turf Club was founded in 1818 and 

 that a Merchant's Plate of 500 rixdoliars was the highest stakes on 

 the race-list. This later on fell into abeyance and was re-established 

 into a Challenge Cup of varying value. A Merchant 's Cup was es- 

 tablished later and after changing hands for twenty-five years it 

 was decided in 1860 that the winner should stick it together with 

 surplus subscriptions.^* 



Turning to the Annals of the South African Turf Club we find 

 singularly enough that Lord Charles Somerset, Governor of Cape 

 Colony engaged in four private matches of 1000 dollars each, every 

 one of which he had the misfortune to lose. 



"The Cape Turf", says an eminent contemporary racing au- 

 thority of those days in the Cape Monthly, "never flourished per- 

 haps more vigorously than when Farmer John, John Raw, Jester, 

 Don Juan, Legislator, Scud, Red Rover, etc. — imported and home- 

 bred Thoroughbreds — were tracking each other about from 1832-5. 

 The timing of these days has never been equalled since, which may 

 be attributed to so many first class horses coming out together and 

 making the pace terrific from start to finish. This does not say 

 that racers of equal capacity have not since been bred at the Cape. 

 On the contrary, many might be named that have shown extraord- 

 inary merits; but as they never met antagonists of corresponding 

 calibre, their speed and endurance could never be satisfactorily as 

 certained. 



At the Autumn, 1835 Race Meeting of the Club, Don Juan 

 and Farmer John ran 3 heats of 1% miles each in 2.541/^, 2.54 and 

 2.55 minutes. Turning up the English Derby race records we find 

 the time for the same distance since 1900-11 varying from 2.45 4/5- 

 2.35 1/5. 



Several of the Cape Horses exported to India gained great 



(13) Compare Count George Lehndorf " Horseireeding Recollections" 1898 



Berlin. 



(14) Ca'pe Monthly 1819, Vol. IX. 



90 



