DETERIORATION A FALLACY. 85 



horses, at the lowest computation, could be considered 

 overweighted at from twelve to sixteen stones with 

 hounds. Then, may I ask, do men above this weight 

 expect to ride horses of high pedigree and performances 

 in the front rank in any county in Great Britain? 

 And if so, let me further ask, at what period and on 

 what horses they ever did so ? I can only say that 

 when I look at our top-weighted steeplechasers I feel 

 proud of the magnificent action and calibre of my 

 country's champions. Indeed it would be hard to say 

 for what purpose, had they undergone different training, 

 they w^ould have been unfitted, from drawing a ton to 

 racing on the flat ! 



What were Lottery, Vanguard, Discount, and Cigar, 

 in point of steeplechasing capabilities, when compared 

 with Bourton, Emigrant, The Huntsman, and Emblem ? 



Or what were the Clinker, Grimaldi, Vivian, and 

 Gaylad in comparison with such horses as Penarth, 

 Flyfisher, Lincoln, and Bridegroom ? 



To any judge of horses, acquainted with both these 

 periods, I willingly leave the issue without further 

 comment. 



Were I called upon to mention the best steeplechase 

 horse of late years, I should not hesitate to mention 

 my predilection for Bourton by Drayton (who himself 

 never appeared, and was got by Muley out of Prima 

 Donna by Soothsayer). He was, perhaps, the biggest 

 animal that was ever a first-class race or steeplechase 

 horse, standing fully 1 6 hands 2 in. high, with im- 

 mensely long and strong shoulders, and rather knify 



