The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-11
BLUE BLOODED HORSES
Where the Thoroughbreds Got
Their Speed and Stamina.
A KINGS WORK FOR TURF SPORT.

james Prom uIgstcd tho First Rules For
Racing and Gave the Sport OF Kings
His Royal Countenance-Diomed Glen
coe and Other Famous Old Time Sires.
Tho thoroughbred horse had his origin
IN a combination of Arabian, Barb and
Turkish blood. Ho was developed to his
present beauty, strength and speed by the
favorable conditions Of climate, generous
feeding and judicious crossing under tho
protection and encouragement Of the roy
atty and nobility of England. The Herod
blood, now SO highly priced, represents the
Byerly Turk, tho sire Of Jigg, sire OF Part
ner, sire OF Tartar, sire Of Herod. Match
EN- blood Is descended from the Godolphin
Arabian (Barb) who sired Cadc sire Of
Matchcm, sire Of Conductor, sire OF Imper-
ator, sire of Trumpeter, sire OF Sorcerer.
Tho Eclipse blood comes from tho barley
Arabian, sire of Bartlett's Childers, sire
of Squirt, sire Of Marske, sire Of Eclipse,
who sired King Fergus, Mercury, Volun-
teer, Dungannon and others equally fa-
nous. The names of these horses will be
found In the pedigrees of all the most
prominent race horses Of the present day.
James i was tho first to promulgate
rules for the regulation of horse racing.
He had established contests for speed In
Scotland, and seeing tho benefits to be de-
rived from such tests In the way of i'm
provement in tho speed and endurance OF
horses at once took steps on ascending the
throne of England to give racing the royal
countenance. The Turkish and Barb blood,
30 freely used with tho English mares TO
produce horses suited for the turf, had
effected but littlo gain In the way of speed,
and James in looking about for new
blood TO give increased speed and stamina,
determined to try the Arabian blood for his
outcross. James purchased a splendid spec
linen of the Arabian horse for large
sum from merchant named Markham,
but the Duke Of Newcastle, then an au-
thority on the horse, took violent dislike
to the Arabian and wrote book against
his use In the stud. Notwithstanding tho
failure OF tho Arabian to take with tho
English, James very soon after purchased
tho celebrated White Turk, shortly fol-
lowed by the Duke Of Buckingham's Helm
ley Turk and Farfax's Morocco Barb.
Such blood speedily effected n change In
the character of the English racer, and
when Charles assembled the throne he es-
tablished regular race meetings at Hyde
Park and Newmarket.
The civil wars somewhat retarded the
improvement of the blood horse, but the
advantages derived from Z light and active
cavalry were apparent to both parties As
soon as Cromwell had the reins of power
thoroughly In hand he at once established
racing stud and did oil in his power to
promote tho interests OF the running horse
throughout the kingdom. Charles H.
with his natural love for gayety and dissi-
patton, turned at onco toward tho excite
mcnts Of the turf, giving royal plates to be
contested for at each Of tho race courses
Much new blood, chiefly Barb and Turk IL
the careless records are TO be trusted, was
brought into England during the rein OF
Charles H.
The thoroughbred, as then known, had
mt that date been marvelously improved in
speed and stamina, and the superiority of
the native stock over the imported horses
was very apparent TO those Interested The
horse of that period Is described as ono of
rare beauty Of form, with good speed and
great stoutness, with fine constitution.
The breeders were far from satisfied, and
all kinds of attempts were made TO get
colts with better speed. Travellers from
tho east would relate tales OF tho wonder
full speed and stamina of the despised
Arabian-dcspised as the book Of the Duke
of Newcastle, written nearly 100 years
before still affected the opinions of the
horsemon. A Mr.. Darlcy, In tho latter
part of Queen Anne's reign, determined TO
try the Arabian blood, and through his
brother purchased in tho desert of Palmyra
what Is now known ms the parent Of our
best racing stock, the Darloy Arabian.
The old cuts OF this wonderful horse show
him TO have possessed almost every require
ment Of great turf performer even mems