WILLIAM ALLISON 



tliose stories could be elaborated with advantage. 

 A keen lover of cricket, he could play quite a good game 

 wlien on the verge of sixty, and he may still have a 

 knock for all I know. Billiards, however, has been 

 his great hobby, and he was president of the Billiard 

 [Association for many years. Sydenham Dixon plays 

 ^ very fair game himself. Not often tempted into 

 ^oing mad about a horse, for a long time he was 

 bbsessed with the idea that Rock Sand was one of the 

 iigreatest horses he ever saw, and actually fancied that 

 |he would beat Ard Patrick and Sceptre in the Eclipse 

 Stakes of 1903. So many of us have been mistaken, 

 however, in our time. 



I suppose one of the best read and most appreciated 

 writers among knowledgeable students of the turf, 

 owners and trainers is Mr William Allison, who has been 

 for so many years the " Special Commissioner" of the 

 Sportsman, is the head of the International Horse 

 Agency in Pall Mall, and runs the Cobham Stud. 

 Mr Allison has made horse-breeding a complete study, 

 and it is well appreciated both at home and abroad. 

 It is he who has brought about some of the biggest 

 deals in thoroughbreds, having sold Galtee More and 

 Ard Patrick ; he has framed in his office the original 

 cheques for the purchase money. Needless to say he 

 is consulted by owners and breeders all over the world. 

 He has certain beliefs, which may almost amount in 

 the opinion of some to a craze for certain blood. 

 Trenton in particular we are always apt to hear a great 

 deal about when we pick up the Sportsman on Wednes- 

 day or Saturday and read his notes ; then again 

 certain ideas are apt to come in the " Vigilant " article, 

 which for many years Mr Allison wrote in addition. 

 I always think it's a thankless task to take up another 

 man's nom de plume for one day in the week only. 



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