The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-08-22


Christ; but it might be carried mp ], 200
years earlier than that time, because;
Josias destroyed the ehariots ofi the
Sun, al, M. 3302. IT. also appears
that these ceremonies were used bySva-
rious nations in ndiferent countries, and
have even been traced to York. Itaas,
been shown with what eagerness the
Roman people pursued these amuse-
snents, and 80 closely have the English
Followed the practice Of the Romans in
chat respect, that, taking tho evidence
of tho sefiptares found at York into corr.
aidefaRon, there is little doubt that It
Was there that horse racing was first in
troduced into England in the celebra-
ton of the Nitrate festivities. The
meagre accounts that have descended
to us Of the transactions Of the Romans
in Britain afford US no means of describ-
ing these sports; indeed during the 500,
years that the Romans held possession
of the Island from the landing Of Julius
Cesar, B. G. SIS, 70 the time they quit
ted A. D. 446 no notice is taken Of
British affairs for the space of 317years
of that time. Hence it is not surpris-
ing, when We are unac9uainted with
TRANSACTIONS Of Importance, that we
should be left in ignorance Of the amuse-.
ments of the Romans in England.
After the Romans quilted Britain,
succession ofinvasions, and of cruel and
intestine wars occupied the time and
thoughts of the people SO fully that they
had little time to think Of horseracing;
and though the disputes hetwixt the
houses Of York and Lancaster, ended
lin Henry VIII, yet we find no attempt
TO revive these diversions until the reign
James l, when we find horse-races at
Croydon in the South, and at Gatherlcy
common, q little North of Richmond in
Yorkshire, but how long they had been
held there previously. We are not in
formed.
Edward Lord Herbert, Of Cherbury
(who died in 1648, seemed to think
these sports unworthy of o man Of hon.
our, 'for in running horses there is much
cheating, neither do I delight why a
brave man should delight in q creature
whose chief use is to helL him to run
away Lord Herbert forgot that a
horse is as necessary for pursuit as it is
for fight, so that his argument is like q
two-edged sword--it cuts equally on
both sides, Gervase Markham. who
wrote on the management of horses A.
D. 1879, mentions running horses, but
these were only designed for matches
between one gentleman and another.
The diversions, however, was SO much es.
teemed that subscriptions were ut last
made towards purchasing piece Of
plate, or making purse, as prize to
the winning horse.
'The English says Pcnnant, swerc
always attentive to an exact culture of
the horses, by introducing horses from
different countries, and by crossing the
breeds, obtaining horses possessing all
the good qualities of their progonitors.
Roger de Bclesme, created Earl of Sal
isbury by William the Conqueror, is the
first upon record who introduced q
Spanish stallion into his estate in Pow.
island, from which that part of Wales
was celebrated for swift and generous
breed ofhorscs. Giraldus Cambrensis,
who lived in the reign of Henry H.,
takes notice Of it; and Drayton, the
poet, q contemporary Of Shakspere,
sings the excellence of the breed, in the
sixth part of Poly Olbion. From this
race sprang, to speak the language of
the times, the flower Of coursers,' to the
contests in the tilt yard, whose beauti.
full form added grace to the rider, and
whose activity and dexerity obtained
the palm in the field Of romantic honor.
The breeds for race horses are de-
scended from Persian and Arabian stall.
lions, whick are given to mares to suit
in bone, size and strength. Formerly,
when gentlemen begin, amongst other
feats of sporting. 70 try the feetness of
their horses agai como another, thew
rodo themselves without measuring the
horses or weighing the burthens they
had to carry. They also fell into the
mistake Of breeding their horses fine for
the sake Of speed only, without regard
70 strength, until the reign Of Queen
Anne, when q public spirited gentle
tleman left thirteen hundred guineas
annually for thirteen plates or purses,
TO be run at such places as the Grown
should appoint; (whence they are called
Kings or Queens Plates or Queens
Plates or Guineas,) upon condition that
each horse, mare, or gelding, should