76 COMPARISONS. 



SIZE. 



Careful analysis of steeplechase winners does not 

 favour any particular size in the standard measure, and 

 I think that living horses go to prove that want of 

 size is no bar to a good one's success in the very 

 best company. The invincible and wearing Brunette 

 by Sir Hercules, was a small one, so also was Brunette 

 by Rochester. Lottery was not oversized, nor was 

 The Huntsman. Abd el Kader, Odiham, Little Char- 

 ley, Anatis, The Dane, for the small division have 

 quite as many trophies to show as the larger division, 

 Peter Simple, Bourton, Sir Peter Laurie, British 

 Yeoman, and Jealousy. But at the present moment, 

 a little one bears the palm, the long, low, and sym- 

 metrical Emblem, by Teddington, who, from her pace, 

 made a terrible example of some large fields in 1863, 

 during which year good races were won by horses of 

 all sizes, from Victress 14h. 3in., and Wee Nell 15h., 

 to Penarth 16h. lin., and Bridegroom 16h. ; the 

 medium size getting the best of it with Lincoln, 

 Medora, Emblem, Sinking Fund, Yaller Gal, and 

 Oliver Twist. 



It seems, then, that a first-class steeplechaser under 

 fifteen and over sixteen hands is not impossible, but 

 is nevertheless an exception to the general rule. 

 Nevertheless I must admit that size is one of the many 

 good points we must look for, though it must not be 

 considered (as it often is) to outbalance all others. 



