THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE 9I 



shafts of a Paris water cart and cruelly overworked, but 

 is said to have been watched over closely by a faithful 

 attendant until rescued and brought to England by Mr. 

 Coke, where later he became the property of Lord Godol- 

 phin, and became known as Godolphin Bard (or 

 Arabian). He was placed in the stud, where he became 

 a very famous sire, his descendants being represented by 

 Matchem. He was probably brought to England about 

 1728. 



From these three Oriental stallions, and their descend- 

 ants, are derived the best blood of the Thoroughbred. 

 There are few running horses of eminence which could 

 not directly trace their descent from one or more of these 

 famous sires. 



Three famous English sires.^While many English- 

 bred horses were prominent in the development of the 

 Thoroughbred, three stand out as really famous in the 

 production of the modern running horse. 



Herod (King Herod). — This horse was born in 1758, 

 and was bred by William, Duke of Cumberland. He was 

 sired by Tartar and was out of Cypron. He begun his 

 racing career in October, 1763, when he was five years 

 old, and ended it in May, 1767, when he was placed in the 

 stud. While only moderately successful on the race 

 course, he was a sire of great renown, siring 497 prize 

 winners, and it is estimated that they won for their 

 owners £201,505, or over $1,000,000. 



Eclipse. — This horse was born in 1764, during an eclipse 

 of the sun, and was bred by the Duke of Cumberland, at 

 whose sale he brought 75 guineas. He was sired by 

 Marske, and was out of Spiletta. In 1769, D. O'Kelly 

 bought him for 1,650 guineas ($8,250). He begun his 

 racing career at Epsom, May, 1769, at the age of five years, 

 and ended it at Newmarket, October, 1770. He was never 

 beaten, and was retired from the race course because no 

 one would race against him. In 1779 one of the Bedford 

 family asked O'Kelly to place a price on Eclipse and 



