266 HORSE-RACING IN ENGLAND 



assuredly conclude that some irreverence was 

 meant. But when they were informed that (Sir 

 Henry) Des Voeux was the breeder and owner 

 of the colt, whose body-clothes would bear the 

 initials ' D. V.,' they would probably see that 

 there was ' nothing in it.' 



While there is reason to object to names occa- 

 sionally adopted, either on the score of inanity, or 

 even sometimes, in former days, of indecency, 

 one would desire to encourage originality, and 

 not too closely to limit the field of selection. 

 Allusions to passing events which might other- 

 wise be forgotten, or indications of the pedigree 

 of a horse, or of the stable it came from, are 

 valuable, and a distinctive name not merely 

 assists anyone in searching the records of the 

 turf, but is also said to be sometimes of financial 

 advantage when a horse is changing owners. 



To return, however, to the Victorian era. 

 Never, of course, was there a reign when the 

 turf seemed to be so flourishing. Never were 

 prices higher, or nearly so high, for 'crack' sires 

 (though they may ' roar you as gently as any 

 sucking dove,' or ' an 'twere any nightingale '), for 

 horses in training, or for fashionably bred year- 



