Portraits of English breeders
The title of John Lawrence (1753?–1839) The History and Delineation of the Horse , published in London in 1809, provides a comprehensive overview of the history of horse breeding in England and the improvements achieved through the introduction of bloodlines into racehorses.
Some great sires are mentioned, but not only them. Neumann described the book as follows: “Decorated with 14 copperplate engravings, it provides biographical notes on the most famous thoroughbreds and sporting celebrities; it also deals with breeding, training and caring for horses in both health and sickness”.
The book not only immortalises some great horses that are still talked about, such as Eclipse and Godolphin, but Lawrence, as a fervent defender of animal welfare, also presents the work of Blundeville and a few others. He also focuses on that of Stubb and Buffon. An accomplished sportsman, he talks about famous jockeys of the time such as Chifney, the world of racing, Newmarket, the owners, the turf, etc. A veritable English encyclopaedia.
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