Newmarket and Arabia

A former cavalry officer, Roger Upton had a lifelong passion for horses. His book was a distillation of his consummate interest, experience and expertise. He wrote, in the nineteenth century, to 'encourage...deeper insight into the history of the horse in this country' and in particular the thoroughbred. A great champion of the Arabian horse, he examines its history, defends it from its detractors, and strongly urges that the then degenerate English stock, as he saw it, be re-founded on a pure Arabian bloodline. Such true thoroughbreds would be of immense benefit to the nation, 'for the prosperity of the horse is intimately connected with the welfare of a country'. In his conclusion he outlined radical plans for a national stud to regenerate the English horse, to the advantage of racers, hunters and cavalrymen. This impassioned work will be of great interest to horse-lovers everywhere.