LA FLECHE 137 



winning the Chesterfield at the Newmarket Second 

 Spring, the Lavant and Molecomb at Goodwood, 

 and the Champagne at Doncaster, beating Sir 

 Hugo in the last-named race (he was third) by 

 about seven lengths, and in stakes (3,415/.) making 

 a great hole in the purchase money. Her success, 

 indeed, was measured by her engagements. She 

 was never put through a set trial as a three-year- 

 old, but, collaterally, through Massacre, who was 

 a sort of ' line,' she ranged up about the same as 

 Orme. She appeared nine times in public in 1892, 

 and only missed the brackets once. After winning 

 the One Thousand Guineas in a canter, they took 

 1 1 to 10 about her for the Derby, when Sir Hugo, 

 who started at the outside price — the extreme out- 

 side price so far as any weight of money was 

 concerned — of 40 to 1, defeated her by three- 

 quarters of a length. The result admitted of no 

 excuse whatever on the part of the mare. She had 

 fed well and done well, and she went to the post 

 perfectly fit. The cause assigned for La Fleche's 

 defeat was that Barrett allowed Sir Hugo and 

 Bucentaur to steal a march upon him at Tattenham 

 Corner, and when it came to the descent of the hill 

 he was not within ten lengths of the two leaders. 

 They had slipped him. He put forward his effort, 

 but it was too late. There was not sufficient time 

 then to make up the lost ground, and, although she 

 passed the French horse and was catching Sir 

 Hugo at every stride, the lucky and fortunately 

 ridden outsider won. The moderate form exhibited 



