20ff MAMMALIA, 



Arabian," Lord Godolphin admitted into his stud the celebrated 

 " Godolphin Arabian," a stallion, which was purchased for a very- 

 small sum in Paris, where it was drawing a water-cart. Eugene 

 Sue, in one of his romances, has related the pathetic story of its 

 life. " Lath," one of its progeny, was the most distinguished 

 Horse of his day. 



The English Race-horse (Fig. 55), then, possesses but certain 

 minor peculiarities, by means of which it may be distinguished 

 from its oriental type. First, it is taller, and the lines of its body 

 are more elongated and rounded. The exercises of the race-course 

 have lengthened its thigh, raised its croiip, and communicated to 

 these parts a special shape. Its frame is throughout more lengthy 

 than that of the Arabian, and bay and chestnut, with their diverse 

 shades, have become its prevailing colours. 



The special qualities of this English Horse are the result of the 

 combined action of climate, education, and use. 



But the sport of racing dates back to a time far anterior to the 

 introduction of any Arabian stallions ; for an English author of the 

 twelfth century speaks of Horse-races which were established, in 

 his time, in Smithfield. Again, we read of their frequent occur- 

 rence in the reign of Charles I., and the promulgation of regula- 

 tions for their guidance in the last year of the reign of James I. 

 Since that time thej^ have always been kept up in England. 



Much of course is due, even among the most celebrated families 

 of English Race-horses, to the mode of education, or more properly 

 speaking, training, to which the animals are subjected, in order to 

 prepare them for their career. The qualities of lightness and 

 speed have been obtained rmquestionably, but it is to be feared, 

 however, at the expense of strength and endurance. AVe must 

 also add that, in many cases, a race cannot be won without a cruel 

 urging of the steed on the part of the jockey — a class which, now- 

 adays, have assumed an important position in a contest in which 

 the Horse once solely took a part.* As a proof of the exertion a 

 racer will make to be victorious, we will quote the following 

 anecdote from a well-known authority: — 



" 'Forester,' "says William Youatt, "had already won several 

 hardly- contested races ; but on an unlucky day he entered the 

 list with ' Elephant,' a most extraordinary Horse, belono-ing to 



* In Italy it is still the custom to race Horses without jockeys. 



