32 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



unlucky, too, was Lord Roseberry for long 

 enough up to the Ladas, Sir Visto, and 

 Velasquez era. The Duke of West- 

 minster had a wonderful run a few 

 seasons ago, which has received, let us 

 hope, only a temporary check ; whilst the 

 Duke of Portland, who a while back 

 could breed nothing but Derby winners, 

 can now hardly win a selling race. When 

 Hermits were carrying all before them, the 

 Blankney yearlings used to fetch enor- 

 mous averages, but now, although they 

 have Galopin and Friars Balsam to per- 

 petuate fame, their yearling average for 

 several seasons has been a sorry contrast 

 to fifteen years ago. Sir J. Blundell 

 Maple, who has an enormous stud with 

 perfect clockwork arrangements at Chil- 

 wickbury, gets only a miserable return in 

 the number of winners it yields. 



Luck and fashion runs in grooves and 



