158 KINGSCLERE 



very nearly first favourite for the Kempton Park 

 Two-year-old Plate, but finished nowhere. When 

 she came to be put through for her three-year-old 

 engagements, she, always unsound and a jade, was 

 found to be 'jadier' than ever, and consequently 

 more difficult to train. Fourth in the Oaks, second 

 in the Coronation Stakes, and again second in the 

 Nassau Stakes to Butterfly (reduced to a match), in 

 which she failed to take ' book ' advantage of the 

 best of the weights, and third in a handicap at 

 Lingneld, comprised the performances of the mare 

 prior to her death, which took place shortly after her 

 last public appearance. It was found, at the post- 

 mortem examination, that it was a case of ulcerated 

 bowels. ' So,' as Porter remarks, ' the disappointing 

 running of Garter Queen may not have been 

 entirely in consequence of her cowardice.' Le Var 

 by Isonomy out of St. Marguerite, three years, was 

 the Kingsclere horse in 1895. This own brother 

 to Seabreeze and Riviera, and half-brother to 

 Roquebrune, was 'dark.' His splendid breeding, 

 his orood looks, and the fact that he went well in his 

 work, proved remarkably attractive to a public ever 

 on the alert for a Derby sensation. Who knew 

 but what this was the best horse in England ? The 

 winter of 1894-95 was exceptionally severe, and 

 nearly all the work which could be accomplished had 

 to be done on the straw beds. Le Var was always a 

 bit backward in condition do what the trainer would. 

 Besides which he was a trifle unsound. The flaw 

 was of a minor character — one that could in nowise 



