56'1' lie^ort on the Horses Exhibited at Wiiuhio)'. 
there was something of a gap, and so the class as a whole 
cannot be said to have exceeded respectable mediocrity. 
The Four-year-old Mares, however, fell short of even that 
standard, for when the Judges had given the First Prize to 
Mr. Lett's " Magnet " by " Conductor," there was nothing in 
the small class deemed of sufficient merit to receive second and 
third honours, which were accordingly withheld. 
The twelve-stone hunters made a grand show on paper; 
but there was a considerable number of absentees. Those, 
however, who did come into the ring made up quite an average 
class. Mr. Eichardson's "Tommy Giles," by "Tally-ho," the 
hero of Islington and Peterborough, had not recovered from the 
illness which overtook him at the latter show ; he cantered 
round the ring in evident pain, and went rather short into the 
bargain. The Judges, however, could not get away from his 
make and shape and his quality, so another First went to him 
after what appeared to be a close contest with Mr. Ernest 
Brown's " Chance " by " Knave of Hearts." 
Twenty-five weight-carriers up to fifteen stone looked well 
in the catalogue ; but, as was the case in several other classes, 
the numbers dwindled away in the ring. Mr. Richardson had 
left " Tommy Giles's " stable-companion, " Coronet," at home ; 
Mr. Battams, whose Devonshire stable always contains some- 
thing upon which modern Daniel Lamberts can ride in com- 
fort, was unrepresented ; and several other well-known owners 
had not sent the horses they had entered. 
It is easy to give an explanation of so many stalls being 
empty. Owing to the obvious necessity of knowing some time 
beforehand for how many head of stock of all kinds shedding 
must be erected, and — in the case of horses — boxes and stalls 
built, a comparatively long period has to elapse between the 
closing of the entries and the opening of the Show ; and during 
the interim many things happen to induce an owner to change 
his mind. In the case of dealers, amateur " copers," and those 
who make showing an integral portion of their lives — and these 
really find about three-fourths of the hunters — the horses 
entered are frequently sold before the day of exhibition arrives ; 
or, where this is not the case, the horse may have gone amiss. 
The judging of those that were present, however, resulted in 
the recognition of the merits of a mare who, on the whole, has 
experienced rather bad luck at shows, viz. Mr. R. N. Byass's 
" Tormonite," Irish-bred, by " The Lawyer." A man whom she 
could not carry has no business on horseback at all, in the 
hunting-field at all events ; and as she moves quite in hunter 
fashion, and appeal's to be an exceedingly comfortable mount, 
