io6 KINGSCLERE 



had foreshadowed, but how ? There was no thought 

 of a trial after the Newmarket exploit ; in fact, the 

 idea of seriously trying Ormonde at home never 

 crossed the mind of his trainer from the time the 

 horse set himself going in public. The great, 

 grand, illimitable creature was always ready ! The 

 story of the Derby, like that of every one of his 

 victories, admits of brief recital. He won by a 

 length and a half, disposing of The Bard (a good 

 game, little horse, but out-classed, who was second) 

 as he had shaken off Minting at Newmarket. The 

 unbounded volume of ' the Yorkshire cheer ' was 

 discharged with a vengeance when Archer flashed in 

 first for the St. Leger, with St. Mirin, four lengths 

 off, second. The Yorkshiremen love a great horse, 

 naturally in their heart of hearts rejoicing in the 

 triumph of a home-bred one, but they fairly wor- 

 shipped Ormonde. They laid 7 to 1 on him for 

 the St. Leger. There is a monotony of monarchy 

 in the chronicle of his subsequent deeds. They 

 laid 25 to 1 on him for the Great Foal stakes at 

 Newmarket, and he more than justified the immense 

 confidence of his backers by cantering in a winner 

 by three lengths : Mephisto (40 to 1 against) being 

 second. Trainers and other equestrians are no 

 longer suffered to finish outside the cords parallel 

 with the field, but what is the use of a rule if it 

 cannot be broken and the infraction winked at ? 

 At all events, a rule was broken when John Porter, 

 mounted on his gallant grey, ■ good old Jack,' 

 galloped along in front of the flyer, as the latter 



