I50 TRIALS. 



Crucifix, who was never beaten, was tried in September 

 half a mile with SetJi, a four-year-old animal (having fair 

 speed and the winner of many races) at two stone and 

 won easily. In fact, I was up myself, and think if I had 

 carried another stone I should have won, as the mare did 

 not show the least symptom of tiring ; and it may be taken 

 for granted that the pace was good, as my father rode the old 

 one, and was second, the two others tailing off a very 

 long way. Crucifix, the next and following year, won 

 thirteen times, including the Two Thousand, One Thousand, 

 and the Oaks ; clearly showing, not only that a half-mile 

 trial did her no harm, but, in the most indubitable way, 

 that it gave conclusive evidence of her superiority, which 

 a trial over a shorter course might have left in doubt — the 

 latter a most unsatisfactory mode of procedure. 



Formerly yearlings were not only tried, but run in public ; 

 and I remember winning the yearling race already men- 

 tioned as the first on record, in 1856, at Shrewsbury 

 with a filly by Ncashani, out of TJie Maid of Saragossa, 

 beating six others. And Schism, as already named, the 

 year following was only beaten a short head for a similar 

 race, which she ought to have won with consummate 

 ease, as her jockey lost more ground at starting than he 

 could ever recover in so short a distance. A remark- 

 able fact in this instance, and one worthy of record, 

 is that she v/as a leggy, overgrown, half-furnished sort of 

 mare, sixteen hands high at the time, and the least likely 

 animal to run such a course that can possibly be imagined. 

 Yet this race, in which she carried 7 st. 4 lbs,, did not hurt 

 her, as she ran successfully for many years afterwards. 



Nevertheless, there are many professed judges who object 

 to any trial at all until the horses are three years old ; before 



