THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE. 45 



and its consequent purity of lineage, were the first race of ani- 

 mals to which the term " thoroughbred " was applied. 



In the later years of the reign of Queen Anne an Arabian 

 horse was brought to England, purchased at Aleppo by a 

 Yorkshire merchant named Darley, and was supposed to be of 

 the Kochlani breed, although his precise lineage was never 

 established. He was called The Darley Arabian. He sired 

 Flying Childers in 1714, who proved to be the fastest horse 

 that had ever been on the English turf, and was of noble form 

 and matchless courage. 



Another descendant of The Darley Arabian was Eclipse, 

 foaled 1764, during the eclipse of that year, hence his name. 

 He was thick-winded and a blower, but never met his match 

 on the turf, and after racing seventeen months and winning 

 £25,000, was retired to the stud, as no horse in the known 

 world dared race with him. He sired 334 winners that won in 

 races £160,000, besides numerous cups and plates. He died in 

 1789, aged twenty-five years, and was buried at "Whitechurch, 

 between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Ware, in Hertfordshire, and 

 it is added that at his interment ale and cakes Avere given to 

 those present. 



Another great factor in the improvement of the English 

 blood-horse was the Godolphin Arabian, foaled about the year 

 1724. He was presented to Lord Godolphin, from whom he 

 took his name. He sired Laih, who proved to be the fastest 

 horse (Childers excepted) ever on the English turf at that 

 time. The Godolphin was one of the sources of great im- 

 provement to the English race-horse of that period. 



The " Royal " mares of that time were mostly imported 

 Barbs. 



Of all Oriental sires it is generally admitted that the 

 Godolphin Arabian — imported 110 years ago — is the last 

 importation of foreign blood that has proven of any benefit to 

 the thoroughbred horse of England, and while this blending of 

 the Oriental blood with the old races of England furnished the 

 foundation, there can be no doubt that the care and skill of the 



