CHAPTER VI 

 THE TRAGEDY OF ASCOT 



THE Ascot Gold Cup is run over two miles and 

 a half, with a trying ascent at the finish, and 

 owing probably to its being a severe test of 

 a horse's stamina and endurance, as well as to the fact 

 that its competitors are supposed to be exclusively 

 drawn from the ranks of animals of the highest class 

 only, it is popularly held to set the seal on its victor's 

 fame. 



Certainly some great horses have won this race in 

 recent years, Isinglass and Cyllene to wit ; whilst some 

 inferior animals have also won, to instance only Throw- 

 away and Maximum H ; whilst several horses of 

 undoubted pre-eminent ability, such as Sceptre and 

 Zinfandel (the latter at the first attempt), have failed ; so, 

 on the whole, it can scarcely be said that a victory or 

 a defeat in the Gold Cup is, by itself, a guarantee of 

 immortal fame or otherwise. 



The entry for the Ascot Gold Cup, 1906, was a very 

 flattering one, although like many Cup contests its pro- 

 portions were destined to be considerably lessened. 



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