NOT A TIP-TOPPER 33 



was hedged, which left the Baronet a loser of a 

 handsome fortune by the transaction. But they 

 raced and wagered heroically in those plunging days ! 

 The Palmer afterwards won some good races, 

 notably the Liverpool Autumn Cup, beating Knight 

 of the Garter, See Saw, and others ; but in the 

 opinion of Porter he was never a tip-topper. He 

 was a powerful bay, in shape long and low, and with 

 rather a coarse head. 



The Newmarket Autumn Meetings of 1867 were 

 something to be remembered by the Cannon Heath 

 stable and the followers of the cherry and black. 

 So many brilliant victories in the same class, each 

 following close upon the heels of the other, had, 

 perhaps, never fallen to the share of a single stable 

 before. It is Porter's custom to proceed to New- 

 market with his horses immediately before the first 

 of the three meetings, and to remain at headquarters 

 until the final fall of the curtain. He is, as it were, 

 for the time being a Newmarket trainer. Before 

 going thither in 1867 the three famous — the 'his- 

 torical ' — horses that have been mentioned were put 

 through the mill, with the following result : — 



THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE 



Rosicrucian, 2 yrs., 8 st. 4 lb. . . . .1 



Green Sleeve, 2 yrs., 7 st. 12 lb. . . .2 



Blue Gown, 2 yrs., 7 st. 12 lb. . . .3 



Xi, 4 yrs., 9 st. 8 lb. . . . . .4 



Won by a length ; five lengths between second and third, 

 and a length between third and fourth, 



