28o JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



what he might. On reaching Buenos Aires he 

 learned to his chagrin that he was forestalled ; 

 Ormonde had been acquired by Messrs. Tatter- 

 sall on behalf of Mr. William Macdonough, 

 a wealthy breeder in California. Mr. Mac- 

 donough saw an announcement that Mr. Reed 

 had gone to South America to buy Ormonde. 

 He himself was at that time entertaining the idea 

 of securing the best thoroughbred stallion in the 

 market, and the desire seized him to outwit 

 Mr. Reed. His first step was to cable Messrs. 

 Tattersall asking them to get an option on the 

 horse. Then he sent Dr. W. G. Ross to London 

 to conduct negotiations on his behalf. It was 

 finally agreed that Mr. Macdonough should pay 

 ;^30,ooo for Ormonde — an unprecedented sum 

 in those days. The bargaining is said to have 

 been concluded the day before the option expired, 

 and just before Mr. Reed reached the Argentine. 

 Mr. Macdonough thought he had done a great 

 stroke of business, because ;^40,ooo had been 

 asked for the son of Bend Or. By selling 

 Ormonde's progeny as yearlings, he expected 

 to make, in the long run, a good profit on his 

 deal. A sore disappointment awaited him. 

 When he reached California, Ormonde proved 

 to be almost impotent. No one, however, ever 

 heard Mr. Macdonough complain. 



In the hope that a change of environment 

 would benefit him, Ormonde stood for one 



