108 Report upon the Spring Show of Thoroughhred Stallions 
are at least up to the average ; while nothing in his batch moved 
with greater freedom. When he stood still, however, it struck 
the spectator that — on the assumption of like begetting like — 
his hind legs were rather farther away from him than one 
desires to see in a hunter sire. As a two-year-old, " Blue 
Grass" was unquestionably a failure on the Turf; he ran three 
times unsuccessfully. In the following season three races at 
a mile fell to him : he ran once as a four-year-old ; and as a five- 
year-old is best remembered for his victory in the Northumber- 
land Plate, when carrying 7 stone 13 lbs. In the same year 
(1885) he won the Cumberland Plate over a mile and three- 
quarters, and a two-mile race in the shape of the Bentinck 
Memorial Plate at Goodwood. As things go, therefore, it may 
be set down to the credit of " Blue Grass " that he has won 
what must now be considered long-distance races, if that be 
a recommendation in a hunter-stallion. 
Mr. Thomas Holmes's " Chapel Royal " is by " Hermit," out 
of " Sister to Adelaide," and therefore brother to " St. Mary," 
who cost 3900 guineas as a yearling. " Chapel Royal," on the 
other hand, was bought by his present owner for 300 guineas. 
He is rather too long in the back and short in the quarters to 
fill the eye, and it was not a matter of surprise that he was 
omitted from the number of those deemed worthy of a second 
inspection. I believe that only a short time has elapsed since 
little " Dick Swiveller " left the training stable, a circumstance 
which will account for his not carrying a great deal of flesh. 
On the Turf he did not leave his mark, except when a two-year- 
old. He then won three races, and was esteemed smart. As a 
three-year-old he ran once, unplaced, in a 5-furlong race in very 
moderate company ; the ' Racing Calendar' knows him not in 
the next year ; while as a five-year-old, his solitary performance 
was in a mile race, in which he was nowhere. What his 
success as a hunting sire may be remains to be proved. He is 
by "Joskin," out of " Little Nell," by " Blair Athol." In^size 
he belongs to the small division, but is very fairly off for bone, 
is compactly put together, and has a good back. No exception 
can be taken to his shoulders or quarters ; but he has a weak 
point in his rather long pasterns. Bred by Alec Taylor, " Dick 
Swiveller," now 7 years old, belongs to Mr. N. C. Awburn, of 
Haydon Bridge. The next on the list is an aged horse in the 
full sense of the term, having reached 17 years. This is the 
" Duke of Athole,"-by " Breadalbane," out of " Countess," by- 
" Rataplan," consequently well bred, and with a jumping strain 
on the dam's side. He stands just 15*2^, has great bone, is 
very wide across the loins, and deservedly attracted a good deal 
of attention. If his legs show signs of hard work, it is through 
