THE 'BIG STABLE' 121 



tioned) for tlie Liverpool Aiitiiinn Cup. In 18G1 lie 

 won a race at Epsom and the Prix de Boulogne. After 

 that he went into the retirement of the ' liaras.' No 

 doubt Light did not beat the best horses of his date or 

 win the ' classic ' events of his country, but he did 

 wonders ; and he was the sire of Bigarreau and Sornette 

 (winners of the French Derby and the Grand Prix in 

 1870), who did what their sire had omitted to do. That 

 is quite enough for glory, to have begotten two such 

 ' clippers ' in one year. Light had his ' haras ' at Ville- 

 bon, 'Major Fridolin's.' The following is the description 

 of Light's personal appearance : ' middle height, regular 

 formation, a total absence of any blemishes to signify ; ' 

 and it is added that ' his aptitude for developing his 

 superiority over all sorts of courses, his perfect temper, 

 and his uncommon energy gave him a claim to high 

 rank among thoroughbreds,' and that from him might 

 be expected a valuable stock of ' steeple-chasers, 

 chargers, and hunters.' It may have been so ; but 

 there have been few great race horses to ' illustrate ' his 

 name, and his excellent but fantastic daughter Sor- 

 nette ' suicided herself before she had a chance of 

 producing a foal to reflect honour on ' the children of 

 Lis^ht.' 



It has been mentioned that in 18G1 the ' Big Stable ' 

 ran Eoyallieu for the Derby in England, the ' second 

 time of asking' on the part of the Frenclimen. It was 

 a bad year for so bold an attempt ; for it was the year 

 when men betted the three ' D's ' against tlie three 

 ' K's ' (Dundee, Diophantus, and Dictator against 

 Kettledrum, KlarikofF, and Kildonan), any one of the six 

 being considered good enough to win the Derby. How- 

 ever Eoyallieu (anotlier son — like Dangu in the j^ear 

 before — of the wonderful FitzGladiator) was not dis- 



