ABSURDITY OF PRICES IN OUR DAYS. 127 



Hetman Platoff, who broke down in the struggle for victory 

 at Warwick. 



In those days, some forty years ago, it was considered an 

 extraordinary sale if anything fetched 1,000 guineas; but now 

 it is a poor sale if many of the yearlings do not reach four 

 figures, their lucky and brave purchasers receiving deafening 

 plaudits for their skill and indomitable pluck in securing the 

 coveted prizes. This is no romantic picture, for as a matter 

 of fact I remember a few years ago seeing yearling after 

 yearling sold not only for 1,000 guineas, but 2,000 guineas 

 each ; reaching as much, in one case, as 2,400 guineas. Nor 

 must it be concluded that a few picked lots only went for 

 high figures ; for some forty, I think, realised at this sale an 

 average of 500 guineas apiece. Just after one of these sensa- 

 tional flatcatchers had been disposed of to some unfortunate 

 individual, a nice little filly, but rather upright in her fore 

 pasterns (a dwarf to the giant that preceded her), was led into 

 the ring, and nearly led out again without a bid, as Mr. 

 Tattersall had ordered her back and called for the next lot, 

 when a couple of hundred was offered for her and she was 

 knocked down at that figure. The late Mr, J. B, Starkey was 

 the bidder ; and the impression was that the purchase was 

 made, not by a particularly good judge, or an astute trainer, 

 such as had bought the high-priced yearlings, but by a genial 

 gentleman, who, having shared in the host's hospitality, felt 

 it a duty to bid for something. However, he bought the best 

 animal at the sale, and though this is not saying very much 

 for his bargain, it proved a really good one, as the yearling 

 ran a very good mare — the well-known Viridis. Now there 

 were present at this sale not only all our home purchasers of 

 note, but foreign judges buying for their respective govern- 

 ments or private clients ; yet not one of them selected the 



