106 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



Why, then, was he not trained for Cups as a 

 four- year-old ? 



Because by that time he had a more than doubtful 

 joint, and, said John Porter, " we should be foolish 

 indeed to risk breaking him down with a Cup prepara- 

 tion and race, when there is the Eclipse Stakes for him 

 to win." 



Orme beat La Fleche for that Eclipse Stakes, and 

 again at Goodwood, when he had six pounds the worst 

 of the weights. He was a great horse indeed, and has 

 hardly got his deserts in public estimation, as can 

 well be understood from the strange vicissitudes of his 

 racing career. 



