72 KINGSCLERE 



by about a length. Mr. F. Gretton attributed this 

 to the seventy of the course, and remarked at the 

 time, ' If that had been at Goodwood he would have 

 won.' Well, Monk ran at Goodwood, and failed in 

 the race (he finished second to Herald) precisely 

 as he had done in his trial. It occurs to Porter to 

 mention by the way a comparatively recent illus- 

 tration of a horses liking for a particular course — 

 one amongst many which might be submitted. Son 

 of a Gun, who won twice at Liverpool, was a stone 

 better there than he was when he ran over New- 

 market Heath. 



In the year 1876 Porter purchased for Mr. F. 

 Gretton at the Yardley sale a yearling by Sterling 

 out of Isola Bella for the sum of 360 guineas. That 

 colt was afterwards named Isonomy, and became 

 one of the best and stoutest horses that ever faced 

 a flag. Stout himself, he has transmitted the quality 

 to his progeny, as has been proved in his sons, 

 Common and Isinglass. As a two-year-old, during 

 which period he ran very little — but thrice in fact, 

 his solitary victory being a Nursery at the New- 

 market First October — Porter was afforded daily 

 evidence of his essentially great character. He was 

 sound and hardy, with a constitution of iron, perhaps 

 just a wee bit excitable in temperament, and, as was 

 frequently shown, to him every description of going 

 was alike. John Porter glows with enthusiasm when 

 he speaks of Isonomy. ' Why, when he won the 

 Manchester Cup, you could not have put a pickaxe 

 into the ground ; while at York he had to gallop 



