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ROCK SAND; HIS PEDIGREE AND PERFORMANCES. In a splendidly written and handsomely arranged catalogue of the thoroughbred stallions and mares now at Nursery Stud, August Belmont, the owner of that excellent breeding establishment near Lexiugton. Ky., thus gives his reason for the selection and purchase of Rock Sand as the premier stallion in his stud: "Bock Sand was selected on account of his peculiar fitness for mating with the Nursery Stud mares, and with the desire to obtain the very best racing strains to be had. He Is the second Derby winner specially Imported to take the place at the head of the Nursery Stud, and it is confidently expected that the praise bestowed on him will be, justified and that as the premier sire he will do his share In maintaining the prestige of the establishment." In mentioning the praise bestowed on him, Mr. Belmont refers particularly to the writings of Mr. William Allison, one of the great authorities on thoroughbreds in England, and be publishes In the catalogue an article which was written by Mr, Allison before Rock Sand was purchased by Mr. Belmont for 25,000. Mr. Allison had been a great admirer of the pedigree of Rock Sand, as well as of his individuality as a youngster, so at the end of his two-year-old career he proclaimed him the champion of his year and predicted that Rock Sand would gain the immortality of the "Triple Crown," by winning the three great English classics, in the following language: "Pedigree, performance and individuality alike point to Rock Sand as almost certain, with ordinary health and luck, to win the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby and St. Leger." This prediction, as Is well known, was fully verified. After Rock Sands retirement, Mr. Allison wrote of him: "Rock Sand himself has an iron constitution, for he always got big and mnscular on the most severe work, and his trainer, George Blackwell, is notorious for giving his horses the most searching preparations. Rock Sand never trained stale, was never off his feed and always showed true grit in his races. The idea of shirking a task, however hard, was not in him." The executors of the estate of the late Sir James Miller had placed a price of 25,000 on Rock Sand and this caused Mr. Allison to comment: "Twenty-five thousand pounds Is a great sum of money to pay for any horse, but Rock Sand is, in my judgment, well worth it, and had Sir James Miller, his late owner, lived, not twice that amount would have sufficed to buy the son of Sainfoin and Roquebrune, who was unquestionably a better performer than Diamond Jubilee, recently sold for 30,000 guineas. I, myself, twice offered 20,000 guineas for Rock Sand, and It was refused." Here is the tabulated pedigree of the great horse, which was recently brought over from England and Is now doing famously in a bluegrass paddock at his new home in Kentucky: ... iStockwell iShe?a10n- I ra. St. Albans J ? Pocahontas. f Bribery The Libel. f Springfield 1 i Splitvote. Uirdls MafCn. MalJ f para.1 fSainfoln. A ., - sr """? 2 Mineral Rataplan. - - tSanda.. " Manganese. Q- Stoekwell The Baron. K -73 . ". LSandal Pocahontas. ! o , .;. Lady Evelyn Don John. at - l Industry. a Vedette t Voltigeur. o 2 ." fOalopin J i Mrs. Ridgeway. 2 5 . Flying Dutchman.. Flying Dutchman. K ... p St. Simon J v J Merope. .V I . King Tom j Ilarkaway. .. .. 1st. Angela i j Pocahontas. Roquebrune.. :? Adeline LUtle Fairy. M Newralnster Touchstone. - f Hermit ? Beeswing. L. . Seclusion S T,admo.r, , St. Marguerite. Miss Sellon. - 1 Stockwell.... The Baron. - . . J 7 Pocahontas. lICTOt,on Klcestls Touchstone. v Aicestis Sacrifice. Here is a record of Rock Sands performances on the turf in England during the three years of his career as a racer: AS A TWO-YEAR-OLD IN 1902. Won the Bedford Two-year-old Stakes at Newmarket; 5 furlongs; 110 pounds $ 2.9S0 Won the Wbodcote Stakes at Epsom: C fnrlongs; 125 pounds 4.C50 Won the Coventry Stakes at Ascot; 5 furlongs and 132 yards; 12C. pounds 8,705 Won the Chesterfield Stakes at Newmarket; 5 furlongs; 12! pounds 3,900 Won the Chaiiigagne Stakes at Doncaster; 5 furlongs and 152 yards; 120 pounds 8,900 Third to Flotsam in the Middle Park Plate: 6 furlongs; 129 pounds 500 Won the Dewhurst Plate at Newmarket; 7 furlongs; 131 pounds : S.235 AS A THREE-YEAR-OLD IN 1903. Won the Bennington Stakes at Newmarket; 1 mile 1,500 Won the Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket; 1 mile : 22,500 Won the Derby at Epsom; 1 1-2 miles In 2:42J ; 32,250 Won the St. James Palace Stakes at Ascot; 1 mile 12,000 Third to Ard Patrick and Sceptre in Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park; about 1 1-4 miles 500 Won the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster; 1 3-1 miles and 132 yards 23.S75 Second to Sceptre in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket; 1 3-4 miles 7,500 AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD IN 1904. Third to Zinfandel and Sceptre in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, 1 1-2 miles 250 Won the llardwiek Stakes at Ascot; 1 1-2 miles; 131 pounds 12,020 Won the Princess of Wales Stakes at Newmarket; 1 1-2 miles; 128 pounds f55,925 Won the Lluglield Park Plate; 1 1-4 miles; 128 pounds 12,100 Won the First Foal Stakes at Newmarket; 1 mile; 134 pounds 1,375 Won the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket; 1 3-4 miles; 137 pounds 37,175 Total, 20 races, 10 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds 31,840
