318 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



duced in extenso, also throws light upon Palmbearer's 

 appearance in Sir Bevy's Derby: 



I travelled northward with the veteran the other day, and we fell 

 a-talking about the age-date of racehorses question. 



" I took great interest in the correspondence," said " Mr. John," 

 "and thought of writing a letter on the subject." 



"Why didn't you?" 



" Oh, letter-writing is not much in my line, and " 



"I know," I interrupted; "you are too modest about your own 

 views," and a look at him convinces me I am right. "What did you 

 think about the proposed alteration 1 " 



" I was glad General AVilliams withdrew it. With the rule remain- 

 ing as it is, people can do as they like. Some breeders like a late foal, 

 some an early one. It is a matter of taste. For my part I like a late 

 one, but it does not follow that I am right in my views. Opinions 

 differ, and the law as it stands allows breeders full scope. When the 

 yearlings are sent up for sale, the catalogue tells the date of the birth 

 of each one submitted, and purchasers can estimate the value of the 

 young stock accordingly, allowing for its forwardness or backwardness, 

 as the case may be." 



" True," I replied ; " but the tendency of the age must be to breed 

 early foals, considering that there are so many valuable stakes arranged 

 nowadays for two-year-olds." 



" Very likely ; but if you get a really good one it does not much 

 matter whether he is ' late ' or ' early.' Besides, there are valuable 

 races for him beyond his two-year-old time. Some of the writers to the 

 papers urged that it was wrong to run the two-year-olds early in the 

 season. But I don't agree with them. Most of the people who say 

 they would do away with the ' Brocklesby ' are selfish. They are share- 

 holders at Sandown, Kempton, or other enclosed meetings, and they 

 would like to see all the racing on their own estates or, at least, to 

 have the privilege of inviting the public to inspect the first batch of 

 two-year-olds of the season." 



" The Bard and Donovan at least upset their theories," I interpolated. 



" Yes ; and there are numberless other instances, both before and 

 since Thormanby. In 1842 Sir Abstrupus, the property of Captain 

 Harcourt, appeared early in the year at Catterick, and ran several times 

 subsequently at two years, his career being a lengthy one, and showing 

 him a good horse at four years and afterwards. At four years he won 

 the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood from a big field. Mr. Jaques' Semiseria 



