CATHEKINA. 367 



higli weights, Catherina's victory was not a vague honor of 

 beating a competitor of unknown merit." 



It is a matter greatly to be regretted, that the distance at 

 which this prodigious weight was carried in victoriously by a 

 race-horse, and the time in wiiich the feat was performed, is not 

 given. It is not in my power to supply either deficiency. Tlie 

 latter, probably, cannot be supplied ; as, except in extraor- 

 dinary cases, and then generally by American sportsmen, who 

 chance to be present on the com-ses, time is rarely taken — or so 

 taken, as to be relied on for its correctness — ^in English races. 



This and the irregular length of the principal races, as the 

 Leger, Derby, T. Y. C, Beacon Course, Round Course, Good- 

 wood-cup and Drawing-room Stakes Courses, none of which 

 consist of a certain number of full miles, but of miles and 

 fractional parts of a mile, render all comparison between the 

 merits of English and American horses difficult and embarrass- 

 ing, if not impossible. 



" It seldom happens," Cecil proceeds, " that a mare which 

 has been kept in training many years, however supenor her 

 performances, has conferred the same high character on her pro- 

 duce, and as yet Catherina is not an exception. Alecto, her 

 dam, was a tolerably good mare, but by no means first-rate. 

 She was sold at four years old by Mr. Houldsworth, who bred 

 her, and her subsequent owner confined her engagements princi- 

 pally to running for country plates, very much in fashion at the 

 time ; she won several of them, but never beat horses of high 

 repute. She ran frequently, in 1827, when in foal, and the 

 result was a colt by Banker, which was never trained. In 1829 

 she missed to TThisker, and the following year gave birth to Ca- 

 therina. This circumstance is somewhat remarkable, for it very 

 rarely occurs that mares having been trained and raced so se- 

 verely ever produce foals, until they have enjoyed at least five 

 or six years repose ; it confirms the assertion, that there are no 

 positive rules for the guidance of breeders. The list of horses 

 which have gained celebrity, by very frequent running, may 

 be brought forward to the present day with good effect, and, with 

 the exception of Catherina, their performances are equal to those 

 already noticed. Cloth worker, Rataplan, Virago, cum multis 

 aliis^'' in which distinguished position I shall take it on myself 



