ii6 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



In ** Two Thousand *' week The Palmer, in 

 a mile handicap, had given Vespasian a year and 

 9 lb., and run him to a length and a half. A 

 fortnight before that Vespasian won a handicap 

 over the Ditch Mile. We knew, therefore. The 

 Palmer was in good racing trim. I cannot 

 remember exactly what our impressions were 

 when we saw Rosicrucian, still more or less an 

 invalid, finish in front of Blue Gown. I imagine, 

 however, that we must have been astonished. 

 On the other hand, taking the result simply as it 

 stood, it revealed Blue Gown as a colt who had 

 " come on " since the two-year-old trial, in which 

 ** Rosi ** gave him 6 lb. and beat him six lengths. 

 After we had discussed the situation. Sir Joseph 

 said to me: ** I shall start my three in the Derby 

 (Green Sleeve being the third), and if Blue Gown 

 is the best on the day he will win if he can. I 

 shall, however, declare to win with either of the 

 other two." This meant that Blue Gown was 

 to start to give the public a run for their money, 

 because, as I have already explained. Sir Joseph, 

 still standing to win ;^8 0,000 over either Rosi- 

 crucian or Green Sleeve, had laid off the bets he 

 had made about Blue Gown. 



A word or two concerning the individual 

 characteristics of these three horses may not be 

 out of place here. Rosicrucian was the most 

 beautiful thoroughbred I have ever seen. Stand- 

 ing about 1 5.2, there was not a fault to be found 



