PRINCE PALATINE 



CHAPTER I 



THE DERBY, THE ST. LEGER AND THE 

 ASCOT CUP 



In general estimation the winner of the Derby- 

 stands out. His fame is established. Formerly 

 the season had no numerical date in the vocabulary 

 of the devotee of racing ; it was " Hermit's year," 

 " Cremorne's year," the year in which the colt or 

 filly named had carried off what Mr. Disraeli 

 described as "the Blue Ribbon of the Turf." One 

 would be reluctant to see the tradition upset and 

 anything but the highest opinion entertained of 

 the Derby winner ; but it might certainly be argued 

 with no little force, with undeniable force indeed, 

 that the St. Leger is surely of no less importance 

 than the Derby as a test of merit. There are those 

 who differ from the common opinion that the Derby 

 course is an easy one. Personally I think it is so, 

 and there seem to be reasons why it must be. A 



A I 



