FAMOUS HORSES 75 



rupted victories, in the Hurstbourne Stakes at Stock- 

 bridge, the July Stakes at Newmarket, the Richmond 

 Stakes at Goodwood, the Molecombe Stakes at the 

 same meeting, the Middle Park and Dewhurst Plates ; 

 all, it will be seen, except perhaps the Molecombe, 

 races of the highest class, the seven wins crediting 

 his owner. Sir Frederick Johnstone, with a total of 

 ^8,666. It was supposed that he could not be beaten 

 for the Two Thousand Guineas next year, and he 

 started a very hot favourite ; but on the way to the 

 post Tom Cannon, who rode him, discovered that 

 something was wrong ; in fact, a large abscess had 

 formed in the colt's mouth and broke under the 

 pressure of the bit. It was supposed that his boy, 

 while dressing him some time before, had irritably 

 jerked his mouth ; but however it arose this misfortune 

 had befallen him, and Friar's Balsam was for the time 

 at any rate practically ruined. This cleared the way 

 for Ayrshire, a son of the once little esteemed 

 Hampton, who was thus enabled to make a great 

 name for himself. He won the Two Thousand 

 Guineas, the Derby, and started first favourite for the 

 St. Leger, which led to the contest which is always 

 desired in the great Doncaster race, a fight between 

 the winners of the Derby and the Oaks ; and here the 

 filly had the best of it. Both of these, it will be seen, 

 figure in the list given elsewhere of horses that have 

 won over ^^20,000 in stakes. Luck of course greatly 

 aided Ayrshire in achieving this result. His weak 



