BLUE GOWN^S DERBY 



We were in rather too great a hurry to leave 

 Cannon Heath. During the winter of 1867- 

 1868 Rosicrucian and Green Sleeve, together with 

 several of the other horses, suffered from a species 

 of influenza which reduced them to a very low 

 condition. The illness was, in all probability, 

 caused by the dampness of the new boxes, the 

 walls of which sweated a good deal. Luckily, 

 Blue Gown, whose box was between those 

 occupied by Rosicrucian and Green Sleeve, 

 escaped the malady. He had an extraordinary 

 constitution and seemed incapable of catching any 

 disease. In the early weeks of 1868 Rosicrucian 

 and Green Sleeve, suffering from persistent 

 coughs and colds, were treated by Mannington, 

 of Brighton, who inserted setons in their throats, 

 and these were not removed until about three 

 weeks before the Two Thousand Guineas, in 

 which both ran. Blue Gown was also engaged 

 in that race, but did not run because of a mis- 

 understanding. Mr. George Herring, who at 

 this period worked Sir Joseph's commissions, 



