BRITISH STABLES AND FOREIGN METHODS. 



575 



of his own at Exning, Matthew was called out again to train for Lord Rosebery, 

 and helped to achieve that nobleman's ambition to win the Derby and be Prime 

 Minister, not only with the handsome Ladas, but with Sir Visto as well. 



From the picture of St. Simon which I reproduce, it will be realised that as 

 a colt he was not particularly attractive, being short-coupled and rather too straight 

 in front. As a young one he was undoubtedly thought to be on the small side ; 

 but William Day has put it on record that "you may get fifty good small horses 

 for one good large one. ... A good big horse may beat a good little one over 

 a short course, or even at a mile or so ; but I think at three or four miles a 

 good little one would beat the best big one I ever saw." Neither Camarine 

 nor Touchstone, the best 

 long-distance thorough- 

 breds of their day (and 

 many other days), stood 

 more than an inch over 

 fifteen hands. Venison 

 was less, and a better 

 type of the old-fashioned 

 hardy English racehorse 

 it would be difficult to 

 find. He cost only ^100 

 at first. He must have 

 walked over 1,300 miles 

 from one place to another 

 during his racing career 



before the days of railways. When old John Day was at Danebury, Venison was 

 the trial horse for Elis, on whom Lord George Bentinck won so much for the 

 Leger of 1836. Joe Miller was another good little one, and the only two big ones 

 William Day thought worthy to compare with him over a distance were Rataplan 

 and Fisherman. Lecturer is another instance at Danebury, later on, of the way 

 a "pony" can win the Cesarewitch. Of his trial in 1866 with Rustic, Blue Riband. 

 and The Duke, the great tale of the Touts' Luncheon at the Grosvenor Arms, 

 Stockbridge, has often been told. They were all locked in over their banquet 

 until the trial was over. When the weights for the Cesarewitch came out, Lecturer 

 would have been scratched with the rest of Lord Hastings' horses had he not 



" Hippia " by " King Tom " (1864). 



