PAET in. 



RACING, "WAGERS, AND GAMING. 



CHAPTER I. 



THEIR HISTORY, RISE, AND PROGRESS IN THIS COUNTRY. 



During tlie Pharaoh Dynasty the Egyptians seem to have 

 been well acquainted with the use of the war-horse, and from 

 dealers out of Egypt Solomon derived a great supply of 

 horses, not only for his own use, but also for the purposes 

 of resale to the people living between Palestine and the 

 Euphrates (a). It has been thought, from the name given 

 by the Egyptians to the horse, that it was introduced into 

 Egypt originally from Persia (b). 



The most striking feature in the Biblical notices of the 

 horse is the exclusive application of it to warlike pur- 

 poses (c), with one exception, when it is mentioned as 

 employed in threshing by trampling upon the strewed 

 grain (d). 



The first mention of the British horse is made by Julius 

 Csesar ; and when he invaded the island, he was opposed 

 by a host of war-chariots, which must have been drawn 

 by active powerful horses. They seem to have been pretty 

 numerous, as Cassivelaunus, on dismissing the main body of 

 his army, retained four thousand war-chariots (e). 



Athelstan, who was second in succession from Alfred 

 the Great, received from Hugh Capet of France, as an 

 acceptable present, several German running Jiorses ( /') ; 

 and in a.d. 930, he decreed that no horses should be 



The time of 

 the Pharaohs. 



Used mostly 

 for warlike 

 purposes. 



The time of 

 Julius Ctcsar. 



Reign of 

 Athelstan. 



[a) 1 Kings, x. 28. 



[b) Smith's Dictionary of the 

 Bible, tit. Horse. 



(c) Ibid. 



(d) Isa. xxviii. 28. 



[e) See Cajs. Bell. G. .5, &c., and 

 Lib. TJ. K. "The Horse," 22. 



(/) See Markham's Maister- 

 Peece, 16th edition. 



