CHILDWICK 67 



from croup to dock, judged from the flowing symmetry 

 point of view, he none the less has remarkable length 

 from hip to hock. I do not think I need write more, 

 except to say that the colt is of a most improving sort, 

 with the soundest of limbs and the best of tempers. 

 . . . One cannot write for ever. A glance round Sled- 

 mere House, with its magnificent library, a brief chat 

 with Sir Tatton on stud lore, an account from Master 

 Mark Sykes (the only son of the house) and his young 

 friend of a rat hunt which they have just enjoyed, and 

 train time is at hand. I must away." 



With regard to the yearling so specially commended 

 in the above extract, I need hardly say that he turned 

 out to be Childwick, who won the Cesarewitch and 

 became a great stallion, sire of La Camargo, Negofol 

 and many other classic winners. 



Before the Doncaster sales of that week I visited 

 Kingsclere to see the St Leger favourite, Common, at 

 work, and here again comes a quotation from my article 

 published on 26th August 1891 : 



" ' Here they come ! ' The speaker was John Porter, 

 most worthy and capable of trainers, and the comers 

 were his long string of high-class thoroughbreds taking 

 their first canter of the morning on the breezy Hamp- 

 shire downs. This is an interesting sight indeed and 

 worthy of writing about, even on the eve of the Ebor 

 Handicap, for is not the Imp leading Common, with old 

 Cameronian in close company? Merely an exercise 

 canter this but enough to show to a practical horseman 

 the immense but easy stride of the big brown as he 

 goes raking past us. What a charming horse he must 



