SUCCESSES OF LOW-PRICED YEARLINGS. 125 



for there is no method of detecting the existence of the 

 defect before purchasing, unless, indeed, surreptitiously- 

 through the attendant. 



For one, Promised Land, I gave this price ; or rather I 

 should say, I gave Mr. Robinson ;^5oo for half of him, and he 

 was a fortune to both of us. I have bought many cheaper 

 ones, such as Brigantine for 150 guineas; and indeed, 

 had always an objection to paying long prices in so risky 

 a matter. Amongst good bargains in yearlings, I may 

 mention Schism for twenty guineas, bought at Doncaster at 

 public auction on the sale of the late Lord Clifden's horses. 

 She won me many thousands of pounds, and her victories 

 included the Queen's Vase at Ascot, and the Somersetshire 

 Stakes at Bath. I sold her afterwards for ^1,500. But the 

 very smallest sum I ever gave for a yearling was ten guineas 

 for Blue Rock, who won me many races, including the Great 

 Eastern Handicap at Newmarket, and Cup at Shrewsbury. 

 On the occasion of his winning the former race, he slept in 

 London, went down to Newmarket by train in the morning, 

 and returned to his stable at night without sustaining the 

 least harm. 



It is a very common expression that Mr. So-and-So is a 

 first-rate judge of yearlings, and on every fortunate purchase 

 his praises are sounded everywhere, though little is ever said 

 of his mistakes. The late Lord George Bentinck was always 

 looked on as one of the best judges of his day ; he certainly 

 bought many good, and it may be added, many bad ones. 

 My father, with whom he then trained, bought most of his 

 lordship's yearlings for him. One of his purchases was 

 a filly by Touchstone out of Lady Moor Carew, which was 

 bought privately of Mr. Whitworth for 300 guineas. It 

 appeared that his lordship had previously seen and condemned 



