A itec dotes of RaceJiorses 8 1 



did not take long, however, to make him change his opinion, 

 and big horse as " Minting " was, he could jump off the 

 mark as quickly as anything, and was going his best in 

 a very few strides. When people talk about " Ormonde " 

 being the " horse of the century," those who are well 

 acquainted with the history of " Minting " are apt to 

 be dubious. This much at anyrate may be stated, and 

 that is, that " Minting " and " Ormonde " never met when 

 " Minting " was at his best, neither in the Two Thousand 

 Guineas nor the Prince of Wales' Stake at Ascot, which 

 were the only two occasions of their meeting each other. 

 I know which horse would have carried my money if 

 both had been thoroughly fit and met in a match, with 

 Fred Archer on the back of " Minting." 



When " Minting's " leg so mysteriously filled, and he 

 was supposed to have broken down, Matthew Dawson 

 always maintained that it was the effect of a blow, and 

 not a strain of the sinews. I remember meeting Mr. 

 Vyner in the train on the way back from Catterick races 

 in the following spring, when it was still doubtful whether 

 the leg would stand training again or not. I made the 

 remark that if the swelling had been caused by a blow 

 a few white hairs should have appeared on the spot when 

 the summer coat was assumed, and Mr. Vyner at once 

 replied, " They have just come there." After that state- 

 ment I felt certain that the horse could be trained again, 

 as proved to be the case. The culprit who struck the 

 blow was subsequently discovered, though no proceedings 

 were ever taken against him, partly for the want of 

 sufficient evidence, I believe. He was supposed to have 

 put a thick bandage round the leg, so that the skin should 

 not be broken, and then struck it with a hammer. 

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