32 THE TURF 



already mentioned, the sum paid by the late Baron 

 Hirsch for La Fleche (St. Simon — Quiver), who won 

 ^34,585, in stakes, and was then sold for 1 2,600 guineas. 

 La Fleche was obviously a very cheap animal indeed ; 

 and it may be added that her total of winnings as just 

 quoted was substantially increased by the amounts she 

 gained by running second for the Derby, &c. (Why her 

 name is always spelt with a circumflex accent is not 

 obvious, but the usual spelling is here adopted.) It is 

 a set phrase with a certain school of critics that " no 

 yearling is worth more than a thousand " ; but that 

 always remains an open question. That large sums 

 are often paid for worthless animals, and that at the 

 best there must always be a grave risk about the 

 transaction, are other matters. Perhaps, on the whole, 

 purchasers of high-priced yearlings have had an 

 exceptional amount of bad fortune ; not a few horses 

 of whom high hopes were formed on apparently sound 

 premises have never been seen in public again after 

 leaving the sale ring. But buyers must take their 

 chance ; and, indeed, year after year many are found 

 quite ready to do so. No one can guess what a 

 yearling will fetch, because no one knows what reasons 

 a certain person or persons may have for desiring to 

 possess it ; and there are not a few rich men who, if they 

 take a fancy to a thing, are not deterred by monetary 

 considerations from obtaining it ; but at the same time, 

 it is strange to note how often the expert foretells 

 approximately the prices for which lots will be knocked 



