108 PREPARATION. 
Fester was one of the most wonderful horses of his day in 
respect to the improvement he made between his two and 
three-year-old form. As a two-year-old he ran no fewer 
than fourteen times, mostly in Selling Plates, without win- 
ning. Asa three-year-old he started a new career by win- 
ning at Winchester, after being beaten at Epsom. He wona 
second race at Winchester; and the third time at Ascot, 
where he was claimed for £1,000. At the same meeting 
he won another race, and was sold for £4,000. Yet this 
wretched plater could have been had as a two year-old over 
and over again at Selling Races for less than £100. The 
real mystery here consisted in the fact that he was undoubt- 
edly run out of his course—a short distance instead of a long 
one—and in all probability was never tried privately; his 
sterling merit being only shown, when in public he proved he 
was, over a distance of ground, about five stone better than 
over a short course. 
In this case condition had nothing to do with the wonderful 
alteration, as he remained in the same hands, and therefore 
no doubt received the same treatment one year as he did the 
other. It is certain, also, that he would not have been run 
unfit in Selling Races, for fear of losing him, if his merits had 
been known beforehand. Neither the trainer nor the public 
discovered the improvement he had made at three years old, 
until his public form showed it. No, not even that lynx- 
eyed individual, the tout, who daily saw him at work; or, if 
this latter gentleman did, by some strange oversight he forgot 
to mention the astounding fact to his numerous patrons, even 
in his stereotyped form, as “going well and strong, and 
pulling up sound.” So much for the valuable services of 
such fellows. 
We now come to the performance of the second horse 
