'FISHERMAN'S' PERFORMANCES 225 



have won the City and Suburban, just as easily as he 

 won the Queen's Vase, or any of the twenty-three races 

 he won that year ; and probably, if trained, half of his 

 defeats would have proved victories. But when we read 

 of a horse such as Fisherman was, running for 60 at 

 Stamford and 60 at Liverpool, what are we to think ? 

 Indeed, out of the races he won in this year, more than 

 half did. not average 100 each, and for one of them, 

 value 30, he had to go all the way to Carlisle. In fact, 

 in spite of all the study he gave to the matter, Mr. Parr 

 signally failed in winning large stakes, either in bets or 

 prizes. 



Besides Fisherman, Rataplan, and Saucebox, he had 

 another fair horse in Mortimer, his Chester Cup favourite. 

 Indeed, this race was regarded as an absolute gift to him 

 from the moment the weights came out ; and, no doubt, 

 if the horse had been only fairly prepared he would have 

 won. But he was not, and he was beat, though the 

 owner always maintained his defeat was due to the 

 twisting of a plate, near the winning-post. Yet some 

 time after the horse goes to Ascot, and, carrying a heap 

 more weight, wins the Stakes ; and this undoubtedly 

 proves that he ought to have won at Chester. But Parr 

 could always find excuses after every defeat, no matter 

 how ridiculous or unreasonable. One instance is as good 

 as another for the purpose of showing this easy habit. 

 Fisherman one day is beat very unexpectedly, is sent off 

 at once, and after travelling all night, runs the next day 

 at Abingdon, and wins easily, to the surprise of every- 

 one. There was little or no betting on the race. Parr, 

 when asked if he could account for the difference in the 

 running on the two days, calmly answered : ' The sun 

 was in his eyes the first time ; and he never could run 

 when it was so.' 



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