MORE RACING 197 



retain his form until he was fifteen years of age. 

 It was a wonderful test of constitution and sound- 

 ness to stand two trials, full distance of the National 

 course, and then run second. I recall an incident 

 in the National Hunt Steeplechase, 4 miles, run at 

 Malton, 1SS6, when I had as mount a horse called 

 Corny Black. In jumping the water the latter 

 made a mistake, with the result that I was thrown 

 on his neck, the stirrups getting slung behind the 

 5 lb. saddle, and for a mile or more I was unable to 

 recover them. My horse meanwhile tore along 

 without help, establishing a long lead. As will be 

 seen below (p. 198), we finished third, and but for 

 this mischance might have had a chance of winning. 

 There are several factors necessary to enable a 

 horse to stay. I do not think I have ever heard 

 the word " staying " defined. Sir Charles Nugent's 

 idea is that in order for a horse to win a National 

 he must be such a fool as not to know when he 

 is tired. My view is that conformation has a 

 great deal to do with it. A horse, however 

 speedy, cannot stay if his shoulders are faulty, 

 as, when he is tired and the driving power de- 

 creases, his action will change ; the stride will 

 shorten and the gait will become laboured. In 

 fact, to stay he must be able to continue galloping 

 automatically, and of course be constitutionally 

 sound. I believe many horses dubbed as rogues 



