xii KINGSCLERE 



CHAPTER X 



PAGB 



Throstle — Her two-year old career — The Coronation and the sensational 

 St. Leger— Parallel cases — Caller Ou and Dutch Oven — A story of 

 Caller Ou's St. Leger — Throstle's trainer on the wrong one — 

 Throstle, when she liked, 'the best filly of her year' — Her final 

 * bolt ' — The season following remarkable for Kingsclere seconds— 

 An excuse for Garter Queen —The disappointing Le Var — Always 

 slightly unsound — Only a tolerable trial — Porter's advice to Lady 

 Stamford— Omladina — Good, game Matchmaker — Analysis of stakes 

 won by horses trained by John Porter 153 



CHAPTER XI 



Porter's former views on Turf reform — Early foaling and its evils — In- 

 jurious effects of 'sprint' racing on both horse and jockey— Porter's 

 evidence before the Royal Commission on horse-breeding — Principal 

 points recapitulated — Curious case of a transmitted defect — Racing in 

 France — The French the better system — Confirmatory evidence re- 

 specting ' sprint ' racing and roaring given by other witnesses — 

 Matthew Dawson not amongst the reformers — The great Jockey ques- 

 tion— Suggested change in the foaling period — Fewer short races and 

 an alteration in the running of two-year-olds suggested— Letter from 

 the secretary of the Royal Commission to Porter — If a March half- 

 bred foal, why not adopt the principle with thoroughbreds? . . 168 



CHAPTER XII 



Suitable site for a breeding establishment — Dressing the land — Buildings 

 and paddocks — Mr. Dollar's plan and description — The sire and the 

 dam — The foal : feeding and treatment — Mr. Dollar on training 

 stables — The structures : their appointments, appliances, and fittings 

 ■ — The Park House stables — Education of the yearling — First lessons 

 — Step by step progress— The system of Capt. M. H. Hayes — An 

 experiment— Porter's verdict— 'The trainer's anxious time' — The 

 forcing method denounced — The race-horse leaves home — Risks of 

 travel — The old and new system contrasted — Anecdote of Sir Joseph 

 Ilawley— 'The fall of Wolsey '—Arrival at the place of sport — End 

 of the trainer's duties — The race . . . . . . .187 



CHAPTER XIII 



Stables — The Kingsclere establishment — Mr. Dollar's views— The head 

 lad — His duties and responsibilities— The daily work — The 'feed ' — 

 The litter — ' Throw physic to the dogs ' — The stable boy: his inden- 



