THE DUKE OF PORTLAND 



into the first three, though it must not be over- 

 looked that the extra quarter of a mile, as com- 

 pared with the distance of the Guineas, was 

 doubtless all against him, as he never won at more 

 than a mile, and, like his very speedy own brother, 

 Energy, could not really stay. 



The rest of Donovan's career is one unbroken 

 record of success. In the Derby he was ridden 

 by T. Loates, as F. Barrett was claimed by Mr. 

 Leopold de Rothschild for Morglay, and it seems 

 surprising that backers were not asked to lay more 

 than 11 to 8 on him, especially as 33 to 1 was on 

 offer against Enthusiast. The full penalty made 

 no difference to him in the Prince of Wales's 

 Stakes at Ascot, and then he enjoyed a rest until 

 the St. Leger. There would have been no interest 

 in this race but for the presence of Chittabob, who 

 was meeting Donovan for the first time since the 

 latter had naturally failed to give him 13 lb. in the 

 Whitsuntide Plate at INIanchester in their two- 

 year-old days. The distance at Doncaster was far 

 too long for JNIr. Perkins's good colt, who could 

 never stand enough work to get him really fit, and, 

 though again beaten, he made a far better show 

 against Donovan in the Lancashire Plate about ten 

 days later. The latter scored his seventh win in 

 eight races that season in the Royal Stakes at the 

 Second October INIeeting, in which he made very 

 light of the task of giving 10 lb. to Minthe, and 

 this concluded his labours for the year. There 

 was no wish on the part of the Duke of Portland 

 to withdraw Donovan from the Turf as a three- 

 year-old ; indeed, he appeared to be progressing 

 nicely in his preparation for the Ascot Cup of the 

 following season, when one morning, after a long 

 gallop on the Lime Kilns, he pulled up decidedly 

 lame. At first it was thought that he was merely 



186 



