294 THE ENGLISH TURF 



Galtee More was well sold to the Russian Government at 

 20,000 guineas, for as a two-year-old he had been beaten 

 by Brigg at Liverpool, and when he threw down the 

 gauntlet in the Cambridgeshire of 1897 he could do no more 

 than finish in the front rank. It is true that he carried 

 the substantial burden of Qst. 6 lbs., but Foxhall won with 

 9 St. (when the weights began at 5 st. 7 lbs., the bottom 

 weight in Galtee More's race being 6st.), Plaisanterie with 

 8 St. 12 lbs., and La Fleche with 8st. 10 lbs. These three 

 winners were three-year-olds, and Plaisanterie and La Fleche 

 could certainly have carried a few pounds more and still 

 have won. Galtee More never ran after he was a three-year- 

 old, so the most that can be really urged in his favour 

 is that he was a long way the best of his year. He won 

 the Two Thousand and Derby almost without an effort, 

 and though his St. Leger victory was barely gained — as 

 the race was run he beat the Oaks winner, Chelandry, by 

 three-quarters of a length only — it is only fair to mention 

 that this particular St. Leger was a most curious race. For 

 more than a mile the pace was ridiculously slow, and they 

 only came along in earnest from the Intake turn, the upshot 

 being that Galtee More, Chelandry, St. Cloud II., and Silver 

 Fox finished close together, and in estimating the winner's 

 merit I am of opinion that he should not be judged by his 

 St. Leger form. 



As regards appearance and physical conformation Galtee 

 More stands out as the most handsome big thoroughbred 

 of modern times. He is big all over, with immense bone, 

 and such a forehand, back, loin, and quarters as are rarely 

 seen, and with it all he has an extraordinary amount of 

 quality. He is a most symmetrical and beautifully turned 

 horse, and though he must be well over 16 hands he is so 

 nicely balanced and let down that he does not present the 

 slightest suspicion of legginess. Ormonde, on the other 

 hand, always looked rather high on the leg when in training, 

 but he was probably an inch higher at the withers than 

 Galtee More, and never carried so much substance. He 

 was in fact, though a big one, a rather lighter framed horse, 

 but his stride was extraordinary, and when stretched out 



