28 THE TURF 



acquired considerable skill, and at the last held his own 

 with fair success against professional opponents of the 

 second class. 



YEARLING SALES 



A PARTICULARLY interesting feature of the season to 

 genuine lovers of the thoroughbred horse is the sales 

 of yearlings which take place periodically. On the 

 mornings and evenings of the days on which the 

 Newmarket July Meetings are held Messrs. Tattersall 

 are busy. The mornings of the Doncaster week are 

 devoted to the same occupation, but at this time of 

 year, approaching mid-September, the days are 

 beginning to "draw in," and after racing the sales are 

 not carried on, intending purchasers, or the curious 

 who would like to purchase if they could, devoting 

 themselves to an inspection of the lots that are still to 

 be put up. Little groups of owners, trainers, their 

 friends and acquaintances, go from box to box, reading 

 the statement of pedigree that is fastened to the door 

 — unless, indeed, they have read it before and have it 

 in their minds — and critically examining the youngsters, 

 who are not seldom upset by their strange quarters 

 and unaccustomed relays of visitors, though some of 

 them stand it calmly enough. Now is the time when 

 one may hear much shrewd and instructive comment, 

 together with a vast deal of nonsense and affected 

 knowledge. How greatly the opinions of experts 

 differ is dwelt on elsewhere, in the pages devoted to 



