TWO-YEAR-OLD RACES 39 



winners have nearly always been animals of the very 

 highest class since Albert Victor's name was inscribed at 

 the head of the list. A liberal share of the misfortunes 

 that horseflesh is heir to has befallen winners, it is 

 true. A horse entered here would almost invariably 

 be nominated for the Derby and the St. Leger, so 

 that if all went well with the winner his chance at 

 Epsom should have been specially good ; but for a 

 lonof time an unfortunate fate seemed to overshadow 

 Middle Park winners in their advance to Derby 

 honours. Something untoward happened year after 

 year. St. Louis and Macheath failed to stand training, 

 and it was not till 1885 that Melton broke the spell, 

 and won the Derby after winning the Middle Park — 

 though Busybody after taking the latter in 1883 had 

 won the Oaks next year. Since then the result of the 

 Middle Park has pointed strongly to the result of the 

 Derby. Six horses have run in both, four of them 

 have won both — Donovan (1888), Isinglass (1892), 

 Ladas (1893), Galtee More (1896). Gouverneur won 

 the Middle Park in 1890 and ran second, the colt that 

 beat him, Common, not having run in the Newmarket 

 race. St. Frusquin, who won the two-year-old race 

 in 1895, was just beaten at Epsom. 



The Middle Park Plate takes place over the Bretby 

 Stakes Course, six furlongs, and soon after its inaugu- 

 ration it was felt desirable to have another and a still 

 severer test of merit in the shape of a seven-furlong 

 race. The Dewhurst Plate was therefore started at 



