HANDICAPS 97 



*' handicap horse," but it would be difficult to say how 

 much superior he was to the Derby winner of that 

 year, Sefton. 



The Lincolnshire handicap is always the first of the 

 season, and is invariably run during the week which 

 includes the 25th of March, unless that week is the 

 week next before Easter Sunday. A few three-year- 

 olds occasionally take part in it— Clarence won in 1892 

 and Wolfs Crag in 1893— but are rarely successful, 

 even in these days of early maturity. The class of 

 competitors is generally rather moderate or useful than 

 very good, yet Bendigo (1885, 5 years old, 8 st. 5 lbs.) 

 was a horse of class, and the reputations of Clorane 

 (1896, 5 years, 9 st. 4 lbs.), and Winkfield's Pride 

 (1897, 4 years, 8'st. 9 lbs.), were gready enhanced by 

 their victories. The next really important handicap 

 is the City and Suburban at the Epsom Spring 

 Meeting, and here class is often well represented. 

 Sefton, who ^/^ win the Derby— modest specimen as 

 he was of the horses that have earned that fame- 

 carried off the City and Suburban as a three-year-old 

 in 1878 with 5 St. 8 lbs. : it was not till afterwards 

 that the minimum weight in handicaps was raised to 

 6 St. Master Kildare (5 years, 9 st. 2 lbs.) won in 

 1880, and in course of time became notable as the sire 

 of Melton ; Bend Or, as already remarked, won with 

 9 St. in 1 88 1. Bird of Freedom, who (albeit in a bad 

 year) won the Ascot Cup, preceded that event by 

 securing the City and Suburban in 1885 (3 years, 



H 



