REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. iyi 



a game struggle, Harry's nag caught the judge's eye first by a 

 very short head. General Parrott's Thunder colts had not 

 turned out the success which his other sires' foals had, but 

 Thunderstorm proved the exception. A fine big-boned, up- 

 standing three-year-old colt of undeniable good looks and 

 quality, of perfect temper and with perfect manners, he proved 

 a credit to his breeder. It is seldom that a countrybred of that 

 age will stand the determined riding Thunderstorm got in 

 Bertie Short's hands from the three furlong post home, and 

 make a brilliant effort in reply to the whip at the end of it. In 

 the Selling Stakes those two ancient opponents, Mercedes and 

 Bluebell, met for the fiftieth time, and though the former made 

 a bold bid in front of the stand, she could not quite catch Blue- 

 bell, who won cleverly by half a length. Mercedes was far 

 from disgraced. It was just asking the good old mare to do a 

 little too much to concede ylbs. The 13-2 pony race was an 

 interlude which gave everybody time to go away and refresh, 

 while the race was being run, as there was not much to be got 

 out of looking on at Billet Doux doing an exercise canter. 

 Some interest was, however, taken in the i3-hand pony race, 

 in which the brilliant Jessamine met that persistent winner 

 Little Dan. The Lall Serryah stable determined to leave no 

 stone unturned to ensure success, and sent out a smart pony 

 in Rogue to make running. They were rewarded for their 

 trouble after a pretty race, but it seemed as if Chapman's call 

 on Jessamine was just a little late. 



The third day was devoted to those necessary evils, 

 handicaps. In that for all horses, one mile, the only real 

 malcontent was that brilliant miler, Red Deer, and his owner's 

 representative refused to accept of the heavy impost, I2st. ; 

 more in mercy to his horse's legs, than from any idea that he 

 had been harshly treated. Anyhow, welter weights being the 

 order of the day, the handicappers could hardly have put less 

 on him after the way in which he won on the first day. 



