208 THE ENGLISH TURF 



though an unsuccessful one, was that of The Bard in 1886, 

 when the little son of Petrarch who is now a successful 

 sire in France was second to Riversdale, the winner being 

 in receipt of an enormous amount of weight. Within a 

 week or two of the same date The Bard made a fair fight 

 with Ormonde for the Derby, and though he did not win 

 the Manchester Cup I have often thought that his name 

 might well be placed in the frieze at the top of the Press 

 stand, where the names of the Cup winners are handed down 

 to posterity. Other good-class winners of this race may 

 be mentioned in Umpire (8 st. I2lbs.), Carlton (8 st. 9lbs.), 

 L'Abbesse de Jouarre (8 st. 6 Ibs.), and Florizel II. (8 st. I lb.). 

 The race always brings out much of the best long-distance 

 form of the day, and is one of the most important handicaps 

 of the year. 



The September Meeting is held a fortnight after Don- 

 caster, and in most years extends over three days. The 

 programme is about as strong as the earlier one, and 

 includes the Autumn Breeders' Foal Plate for two-year- 

 olds, worth about ,1,000 ; the De TrafTord Handicap of a 

 mile and a half, worth half the amount ; the September 

 Handicap of five furlongs, also worth 500 ; the Lancaster 

 Nursery, of the same value ; the Palatine Plate, of about 

 ; 1,100, for three-year-olds ; the Michaelmas Plate, of 500, 

 for two-year-olds ; and the Prince Edward Handicap of 

 2,000, which latter race took the place of the Lancashire 

 Plate in 1894. It is a pity that the Lancashire Plate could 

 not be continued, for no mammoth prize produced more 

 spirited contests, and it was never won by a bad horse. 

 Such names as Donovan, Seabreeze, Amphion, Signorina, 

 Raeburn, and La Fleche are on its short-lived list of 

 winners, and, with the exception of Raeburn, all six were 

 of the very best class. Signorina defeated, amongst others, 

 Orme, who was then a two-year-old, the race being at that 

 time run over a seven-furlong course. Martagon, Alicante, and 

 Gouverneur were likewise among the beaten lot, and the finish 

 between Signorina, Orme, and Martagon was most exciting, 

 the race being only won in the last few strides. Webb, 

 who had the mount on Chevalier Ginistrelli's mare, fairly 



