view raw text
M0NARCHS AND THE THOROUGHBRED. How British Kings and Queens, from King John Down to George V., Have Extended Aid. To show how intimately the thoroughbred is connected with the history of England and that high state of civilization which that country represents, one has to go behind the English Stud Book, itself over two hundred years old and .there one finds the monarchs of centuries ago fostering the progenitors of the thoroughbred of today. And it is worthy of note that the best kings of England from King John to King Ueorge V. helped the industry, while the few sovereigns who did not aid in the work are those who in part at least failed to endear themselves to the English people. The close student of the horse and his admirers, at the present time, will not fail to see the reason for this, for a man in whatever walk of life he may lie, who loves a good horse, invariably has a character which causes his neighbors to like him and who. taken all in all, is of the kind which makes for the brotherhood of man. King John was a firm lioliover in the benefits to be derived from the introduction of eastern Mead into the industry of England. He, in fact, founded a stud at Eltham and the almost everlasting effects of the introduction of such Meed is proven by the fact that at Eltham and vicinity there can yet be seen traces of this work of King John. And even in those days the work was no easy one. Assailants were not as plentiful as at present, but wars were more common and then as now, war destroyed many horses. Furthermore, in those days the best chargers were stallions and when captured or destroyed the injury was great indeed to the breeding industry. During the Wars of the Roses. England lost a goodly part of her best horses, but Henry VIIE, in another war brought many of them back. He followed this up by re-establishing the Eltham Stud and also founded new studs at Hampton Court and Windsor. His sii| crintcndcnt was given the title of "Keeper of the Hurbary Horses," and he must have been a keen student of breeding, for he sent all the way to Italy and brought back English horses which had been captured in the wars, to cross with new ones from the east. The Marquis of Mantua had one particularly good stallion which he sold to England for the weight of the horse in silver. Queen Elizabeth Recognized Value of Eastern Blood. Queen Elizabeth was one of the most famous horse women of her time. She rode well anil always insisted upon having the liest. She was not in the least afraid of a horse and, in fact, had little Bee for the meek and passive kind. She recognized the value of eastern blood to improve the other breeds and beat of all she put her ideas into practice, forming new studs at St. Albans. Oroenwioh and Waltham ami bolstering up the studs at ilamp ton Court ami Windsor. It is proven by history that those monarchs, who helped the horse industry were also kings and ejaeeae who did other great work for England, while those wiio neglected the breeding farms, were inclined to be eareteaa in other ways. The history of the world is the story of the building up and pulling down of institutions and nations. The thoroughbred horse has always been on the right side of this eternal conflict. He is a product of the builders and this is perhaps why the Wiethe re aim so many shafts at him. During the reign of King James E, racing became the great st sport in Kugland and to this day it is regarded as the only infallible test of the thoroughbred horse, the blind justice of the winning post being its best re-oininendation. It was during the reign of James I. that racing became a nation;.! institution in Scotland and it was also during the life of this monarch that the Mark ha in Arabian Was imported. During the reign of Charles E the Duke of Bu k-inghani brought in the Helmsley Turk, who afterwards turned out to be a good sire and the industry was booming Whea the wars, which came before the Commonwealth, made great inroads and almost Wrecked the whole structure. The choicest mares and best stallions were sacrificed, for then as now, the tliorieiglibred m-vcr faltered in the face of danger. That unflinching blood was commencing to tell. WImii the restoration was brought about, Charles II. started in to rehabilitate the horse breeding indusiry. There were some good stallions left, so be sent men to Arabia after mares. About twenty of these finely-bred animals made the long journey and these are known in history as "The Royal Marcs of King Charles." Importation of the Famous Byerly Turk. William and Mary encouraged the industry by every possible means, and it was during their reign that the Byerly Turk was imported. This horse was owm-d liy Captain By rly and was used by him as a charger in the Irish campaign. He afterwards became one of the most famous horses in tin- whole world. Queen Anne was from first to last a racing monarch and a short time after she was crowned, the Parley Arabian became famous. He was the second of the three pillars of the English Stud Hook, tie-first being the Byerly Turk. During Queen Anne:, reign, twenty-three stallions in all were brought from the east to England ami on her command the breeding id good horses was commenced on scieatifie principles. She not only sent men to the east, but searched Kuropo for eastern sires. It was during her reiga that the third great haree of history was snared. This was the world-famous Codolphill Arabian, bought la Iaris in 1728, When this horse died in 17SS, men came for hundreds of miles to attend his fun rai and a chronicler of the time says that a favorite cat sat iliscoiisolatly on the horses grave. King George E did not become much interested in the horse breeding industry, but the Duke of Cumberland, a sou of his successor, was the founder of tin- famous Ascot race course. lb- also established studs at Cumberland and on the Isle of Dogs, where it is said Eclipse was foaled. This brings BS up to tie establishment of the English Stud Beak in which authentic record has been kept of thoroughbreds since the eighteenth century. And why all this trouble and perseverance, since so remote a time? Because even in those early days a thoroughbred Was celestes to be the most valuable hacae in the world. And why this value"; Beeaase he is the only horse which improves all breeds.
