1 8 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



Charles I (1625-1649), the son of James I, established racing at 

 Newmarket and Hyde Park. Charles II is regarded by British 

 authorities as the leading promoter of horse racing following the 

 time of Henry VIII. He brought many horses from the Orient 

 and was a pioneer in establishing the Thoroughbred as a breed. 

 Two Barb mares which Charles II imported became famous 

 among the brood mares of England, and were named the 

 ■" Royal Mares." 



Horse racing and the race track in Great Britain have thus 

 been institutions from early times, and since the day of James I 

 (1 566-1625) every British ruler has patronized the race course 

 and promoted horse breeding. The most noted race course in 

 England is that at Newmarket, established in 1667. On this 

 course in May, July, and October are held notable racing events, 

 of which the Two Thousand Guineas stake is the most famous. 

 What are known as the classic races of England, in the order of 

 their occurrence, are the Two Thousand Guineas, One Thousand 

 Guineas, Derby,i Oaks, and St. Leger. The Derby, the most 

 noted of these, was established at Epsom in 1780 and has been 

 held each year since until 191 5, when it was discontinued until 

 after the World War. The race as run in England and generally 

 elsewhere in western Europe is with a jockey in the saddle, the 

 gait being at a gallop, which is the fastest speed produced by 

 the horse. The course is a closely cropped sod; hence the name of 

 " the turf," as applied to the European race track. The length of 

 the course and its form vary more or less. In 1892 Curzon 

 wrote,2 "There are thirty-one different race courses at Newmarket, 

 ranging from a little over a furlong (40 rods, or one eighth of a 

 mile) to the Beacon course of four miles." The Derby race is 

 over a course i mile 4 furlongs 29 yards. Four miles is rarely 

 run. A popular distance is one and one-fourth or one and 

 one-half miles. 



The early improvement of the Thoroughbred dates back several - 

 hundred years. Since the time of James I about one hundred 

 and sixty-four oriental sires have been imported into England. 

 The keen desire for a running horse and the race track have 



1 In England pronounced as though spelled Darby. 



2 Henry Curzon, A Mirror of the Turf. 



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