OVER A DISTANCE OF GROUND. 189 



genuine stayers as were Gold and Sheen in 1890. Their 

 comparative merits were frequently the subject of discussion 

 amongst racing men, there being no stable which can keep its 

 own counsel better than that of Prince Soltykoff. Now, 

 however, there is no need for reticence, and Mr. Jennings 

 having kindly answered a question addressed to him for the 

 purposes of this volume, we cannot do better than give his 

 own words. 



' Before Ascot, 1890, 1 galloped Sheen and Gold, Ditch In, at 

 equal weights, the late J. Goater on Gold, and I could not tell 

 which was the best. Of course they were not whipped and 

 spurred to the last degree, and, as you know, Gold won the 

 Triennial and Cup, but that I attributed to the hard ground : 

 it was very hard that year. There never was any doubt in my 

 mind that Sheen was 21 lbs. better on soft ground than hard.' 



Probable enough ; still Sheen cannot be accused of being 

 one of those horses which can only go in dirt. Witness the 

 aforesaid Cesarewitch, when though a heavy overnight rain had 

 taken some ot the jar out the ground, the going was decidedly 

 on the firm side. Ascot in really dry weather is too bad for 

 anything that does not take actual pleasure in hearing its feet 

 rattle. 



With regard to the difficulty experienced in obtaining 

 authentic accounts of long distance trials, it must be borne in 

 mind that not only are such trials out of vogue with trainers, 

 but also that there is actually no need to try any horse to stay, 

 as far as he himself is concerned, more than once in his life ; 

 the discovery of the gift may be made in public or in private, it 

 may come upon the owner as a surprise, or be watched in 

 gradual development, but its existence once clearly ascertained 

 there need be no fear of its disappearance, so that if a proved 

 stayer ever fails to stay, it is not because he has lost the power, 

 but because he has not had the particular preparation he 

 requires. With speed the case is reversed, horses as they grow 

 old, and sometimes even in youth, lose their speed in very 

 marked fashion, and the only reason for trying a stayer before 



