INCREASED SIZE OF THE RACEHORSE. 231 
the latter carries the day. A/ep, the Prince of Wales’s horse, 
has gained a tremendous reputation in Egypt, never having 
been beaten in any of the eighteen races he ran in that 
country ; and Lord Strathnairn’s Avowal, a half-bred animal 
with some Arab blood, is not a particularly brilliant speci- 
men of a racehorse, but was nevertheless easily able to account 
for the hitherto unconquered A/ep.” 
After giving the time in which Arabs have run two miles, 
the writer says in conclusion :— 
“The four-mile race of yesterday was calculated to dis- 
play the speed and endurance of the Arab, but even against 
so moderate an animal as Avowal, Alep’s efforts were use- 
less, and the value of English thoroughbred blood is again 
conclusively demonstrated.” 
When we come to consider the size of the thoroughbred 
we see the same (it may be, questionable) superiority. In the 
Book Calendar of 1749-50 is a list of stallions and their 
prices for serving mares, together with laudatory remarks, 
a few only of which I will notice. One advertisement 
(abridged) runs thus: “The fine Arabian horse brought over 
by Mr. Moscow from Constantinople, at three guineas, and 
half-a-crown the groom. He is near fifteen hands high.” 
Again, Disman, at the same price, is strongly recommended 
on account of his great strength and size, being 15 hands 
high, which appears to have been the extreme height of nine 
out of ten, whilst the others are described as being very 
little taller. Now if we contrast with these our horses, 
many of which are 16 hands and a half and 17 hands 
high, we shall easily perceive how superior is their size to 
that of those I have been describing ; whilst the low fee for 
serving the mares formerly charged, contrasts strongly with 
