no KINGSCLERE 



We have now arrived at 1887, which proved 

 another great season for the Kingsclere Association. 

 Amongst the more distinguished of the horses in 

 training were Ormonde, Orbit, Ossory, Savile, Friar's 

 Balsam, and Mon Droit. Before touching on the 

 two-year-olds at Kingsclere — quite a remarkable lot, 

 with one or two that were top sawyers — let the 

 King's head re-appear in the memorial. In spite of 

 all rivalry, and some of that was both powerful and 

 brilliant, Ormonde retained the allegiance of an 

 idolatrous public as 'the horse of the century.' He 

 won the Rous Memorial at Ascot, over a course 

 whose severity is proverbial, in a canter by six 

 lengths, giving no less than a stone and eleven 

 pounds to Kilwarlin (Kilwarlin subsequently won 

 the St. Leger, after being left at the post). It was 

 alleged before the race that there was not a horse in 

 England who could concede Kilwarlin the weight 

 and stretch his neck, let alone win. But Ormonde 

 had a habit of ruining calculations of that descrip- 

 tion. A more popular idol than ever because of 

 that ' impossible ' victory, he maintained the pride of 

 place by his next achievement. This was in the 

 sensational Hardwicke Stakes at the same meeting, 

 undoubtedly one of the most exciting races ever 

 witnessed. Porter was not over and above sanguine 

 before the race. To tell the truth, he was troubled 

 with the fear, of the infirmity whose unmistakable 

 symptoms he had observed about the time of the 

 St. Leger the year before. In speaking of it 

 to-day, he declares that it was the most grievous dis- 



