The Darley Arabian. 209 



than any of the family, and he never looked so beau- 

 tiful as when, although rising twenty, he stood in a 

 fiery fret, with every vein out like the tendrils of a 

 vine, for twelve long hours, on the first day of the 

 Salisbury Royal. His blood mare chances were few, 

 but he invariably got his hunters as good as they could 

 be, and with more size and substance than himself. 

 In fact, it is very much the secret of breeding not to 

 use too big a sire. Middle-sized ones have oftener 

 quality to give back, and get goodness as well as size ; 

 whereas big ones too often get their big stock three- 

 cornered, and sadly apt to run soft. 



The cross of Emilius and Fleur de Lis p. 

 came to nothing at first, though it was so 

 much thought of that three hundred sovereigns was 

 bid for the foal if it lived three days. It turned out 

 to be a very mean bay colt, with hardly stamina 

 enough to keep it alive for twenty-four hours. The 

 mare herself was bought w^hen a foal by Sir Matthew 

 White Ridley, from the Rev. Christopher Sykes. In 

 a race she would not bear hurrying, but required to 

 wait, in front if possible. She would not run without 

 a very strong preparation, and was about sixteen 

 hands, on a light leg, with rare shoulders, deep fore 

 ribs, wide hips, and a great deal more action in her 

 hind quarters than her fore, which rather stopped 

 her at a hill, but gave her endless propulsion on the 

 flat. 



The Pompey line of Emilius has so far j^ 

 stopped short with Nancy, as he has of 

 late had scarcely any blood mares. Nancy fed well 

 and did well all 185 1, but she received what was vir- 

 tually her finishing stroke in the autumn of that year, 

 as she took a gallop on Knavesmire. Going round the 

 Middlethorpe turn, she slipped on a spot where the 

 cattle had trodden down the grass, and sprained hei 

 off hind leg so severely, that she never stood a good 

 preparation again. Her great power was from her 



P 



