STEEPLECHASE AND HURDLE RACE HORSES 175 



the case with Lord Coventry's famous mares Emblem 

 and Emblematic. 



Horses are usually put to jumping because for some 

 reason or another their career on the flat has ceased 

 to look promising, it having been so continually proved 

 that failures under Jockey Club Rules were brilliant 

 successes under the Rules of the National Hunt. 

 There is much less money to be won over hurdles 

 or fences, but there seems more chance of winnings 

 it. Sometimes a horse who retains his capacity to 

 gallop, but becomes a rogue and refuses to try, is 

 put to hurdle racing because an idea exists — an idea 

 which appears well authenticated — that animals thus 

 often gain the confidence or courage which they lack. 

 It was for this reason that Duke of Richmond — at 

 one time, as set forth in a previous section of this 

 work, regarded as a worthy rival of the great St. 

 Simon — was schooled over hurdles. Another horse 

 that may be instanced is Regret. As a three-year-old 

 he won over ^3,000 in stakes, and actually started 

 favourite for the Princess of Wales's stakes in a field 

 which included St. Frusquin and Persimmon, the 

 betting being 7 to 4 Regret, 5 to 2 St. Frusquin, 

 4 to I Persimmon, and he was third, beaten only a 

 length from St. Frusquin, who won ; though it should 

 be noted that Regret had 7 lbs. advantage in the 

 weights. His wilfulness was not at first cured by a 

 course of hurdles, but he has been persuaded to 

 win some races since, a fact which says much for 



