32 KINGSCLERE 



come back to Cannon Heath.' Xi won a great 

 many races in 1867, 1868, and 1869— all prosperous 

 seasons for the stable — and was one of the most 

 trustworthy horses that Porter has ever trained. 

 His performances in public never varied in the 

 least from his ■ examinations ' at home. So far, 

 so good. But Xi possessed qualities in a trial 

 which, in the trainer's experience, have rarely been 

 equalled, much less surpassed. A test with Xi 

 engaged in the operation, no matter what weight he 

 carried or what distance he galloped, was, so far as 

 he was concerned, absolute. In the beginning of 

 1867 Sir Joseph Hawley's stud, which at no period 

 of Porter's management was numerous, included 

 The Palmer (3 yrs.), Xi (6 yrs.), Satyr (3 yrs.), and 

 Blue Gown, Rosicrucian, and Green Sleeve, two- 

 year-olds. There was also a filly called Cottyto in 

 the victorious group. It was the year of Hermit's 

 sensational Derby, the Derby which was run in a 

 snowstorm and won by an infirm, scarcely con- 

 valescent, and therefore generally discredited, horse, 

 who started at what might be considered hopeless 

 odds. The more striking incidents associated with 

 that memorable race belong more appropriately to 

 other histories than they do to the career of John 

 Porter, but Sir Joseph Hawley figured in connection 

 with the race in a manner which proved what a 

 thorough sportsman he was. He had a bet of 

 50,000/., even, with Mr. Chaplin — The Palmer 

 against Hermit, one to win. For what appeared to 

 him to be conclusive reasons, 20,000/. of that 50,000/. 



