H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES 



tion for which was attended by considerable 

 difficulties. The summer was an unusually dry 

 one, and the ground became so hard that Marsh 

 was compelled to have constant recourse to the 

 tan. This sort of work got the colt light, but 

 it is dangerous to try to jump a big horse off 

 smartly on tan ; he lost some of his sharpness 

 and speed, and was by no means himself when 

 he went to Doncaster. This was made pretty 

 evident in the race, in which Labrador fairly 

 held him for a few strides at the bend, though 

 Watts said that he won quite easily at the 

 finish, and attributed the appearance of a race 

 outside the distance entirely to Persimmon's " 

 slovenly style. The victory evoked another great 

 outburst of enthusiasm, though it was mild as 

 compared with the Epsom demonstration, but this 

 was bound to be the case, as Persimmon's success 

 had been regarded as a certainty for some weeks 

 prior to the race, and he started at 11 to 2 on, 

 whereas, in the Derby, he beat a red-hot favourite. 

 Only three weeks elapsed between the decision of 

 the St. Leger and the Jockey Club Stakes, yet 

 this brief period made quite a different horse of 

 Persimmon. The ixiuch-needed rain had come, 

 and Marsh was able to get him off the tan and slip 

 some nice sharp work into him. I feel sure it is not 

 an exaggeration to state that he was fully 14 lb. 

 better than he had been at Doncaster, and he 

 certainly accomplished his best performance up to 

 that time. It was not that he beat anything of 

 very much account, but it was the style in which 

 he won that so deeply impressed every one who 

 saw the race. His comparatively indifferent 

 display in the St. Leger doubtless encouraged the 

 owners of other candidates, for the opposition was 

 nine strong, though Sir Visto, Laveno, Regret, 



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