SECOND PERIOD: GEORGE III. 71 



The St. Leger, one year older than the Oaks, 

 if the date be taken from s.J'j'^, when the name 

 was given, or three years older, if from its insti- 

 tution without a special name, has always been 

 for fillies as well as colts (and was won in 1776, 

 when it was first run, but unnamed, by a filly after- 

 wards called Alabaculia), has, like the Derby, had 

 its distance and day of running altered, from the 

 original ' two miles ' to ' one mile six furlongs and 

 132 yards,' and from Monday, or (more frequently) 

 Tuesday, or sometimes Wednesday, to Wednes- 

 day permanently, commencing with 1845, when 

 The Baron won. Of course, fillies have always 

 received an alleviation of weight, as in the Derby, 

 but less than in the latter race, because the time 

 of year when the St, Leger is run is more favour- 

 able to them. The St. Leger, accordingly, has 

 been won by a filly very often indeed : (Alaba- 

 culia), Hollandaise, Serina, Imperatrix, Omphale, 

 Cowslip, Young Flora, Pewet (on a jostle, proved 

 against the rider of the black colt Zanga, by 

 Laurel and Moorpout), Paulina, Altisidora, The 

 Duchess (ex Duchess of Leven), Matilda, Queen 

 of Trumps (won the Oaks), Blue Bonnet^ Impe- 

 rieuse (won the One Thousand), Sunbeam, Caller 

 Ou (started at 1,000 to 15 against her), Achieve- 



