COLONIAL HORSE HISTORY—NEW YORK.
Settlement of New Amsterdam—Horses from Curaçoa—Prices of
Dutch and English horses—Van der Donck’s description and size
of horses—Horses to be branded—Stallions under fourteen hands
not to run at large—Esopus horse—Surrender to the English,
1664—First organized racing—Dutch horses capable of improvement
in speed—First advertised Subscription Plate—First restriction,
contestants must “be bred in America”—Great racing and heavy
betting—First importations of English running horses—Half-breds
to the front—True foundation of American pedigrees—Half-bushel
of dollars on a side—Resolutions of the Continental Congress
against racing—Withdrawal of Mr. James De Lancey—Pacing and
trotting contests everywhere—Rip Van Dam’s horse and his cost 120-127