PREFACE. 



XXI 



Apart from other considerations, even if it be judged from the few names here 

 given, this stud is one of which the ruler of any Kingdom might well be proud, 

 t-vrii though it docs not now include Perdita If., who died in 1899. She was 

 by Hampton out of Hcrmione by J 'oung Melbourne, and is the only mare on record 

 who produced two sons, own brothers, and a grandson, Derby Winners. Her 

 produce must be worth almost a quarter of a million pounds in value, and her 

 record outdoes even that of Pocahontas. Penc/o/>e approaches it most nearly. 



I have gone into these details because it is as well to discount as soon and as 

 thoroughly as possible any exaggeration in the laments about modern decadence to 

 which I have referred. Certainly no one who stood, as I did this spring, in 

 Bend Or's loose-box at 

 Eaton, would be in- 

 clined to believe that 

 the best English 

 breeders are taking less 

 care than they ever did 

 or are less likely to reap 

 their due reward. That 

 splendid son of Doncas- 

 ter and Rouge Rose still 

 stands high in the list 

 of winning sires (twenty- 

 fourth, with .3,582 in 

 October, 1901), and 

 looks good for many 

 more years yet, though it is as long ago as 1880 since he beat Robert the Devil 

 by a head for the Derby. Through his son Ormonde and his grandson Orme he 

 could have been sure of immortality even if his own performances had not placed 

 him among the classic heroes of the Turf. 



Before leaving this subject I must give one more reason for the faith that is in me 

 by quoting the instance of St. Simon, the lord of a stud farm scarcely less famous 

 than the two I have just mentioned. This bay son of Gabpin and St. Angela (by 

 King Tom) was declared by Matthew Dawson, who trained Thormanby, Wheel of 

 Fortune and Minting, to be the best animal he ever had. Hut though he left the 

 Turf undefeated, after beating Tristan for the Gold Cup at Ascot, and winning the 



Colt by "Persimmon" out i>/"/.a Carolina." 



Saudi iff kam, 1901. 



