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TRACERY AND PRINCE PALATINE. I suppose there will be partisans of Tracory and of Prince Palatiiio to the end of time, though the question is one of merely academic interest, except to the peculiarly constituted people who cannot imagine that more than one horse is a first-class one. "What does it matter, for instance, whether St. Simon was lx-ttcr than Ormonde or Ormonde than tit. Simon? Partisans, however, are as a rule unable to grasp the fact that they depreciate their idol when they make light of his rival. Pugilists and other athletes show as a rule far more common i-ens after a victory, for they, with scarcely an exception, declare their beaten antagonist to be an extraordinarily good man. Now. there is not the slightest reasonable doubt that both Tracery and Prince Palatine are good horses indeed, and when I give Tracory the preference it is not because I like Prince Palatine less, but because I like Tracery more both on his looks and on his racing record, not to mention his breeding. The main difference between the racing careers of Prince Palatine and Tracery is that the former interspersed -his .great performances with several very bad ones, while the latter never once ran a bad race. He made his,debnt in the Derby when only half ready and even so finished third. From that time to the Ascot Cup day of this year he was unbeaten. As to the Ascot Cup. it is. I believe, the opinion of every jockey who rode in the race, except Saxbv. who naturally fancied his own mount. Prince Palatine, that Tracery had to all intents and Viiriioses won when he was knocked over. Apart from anv question of its being a false-run race. Traeervs failure to win the Jockey Club Stakes was ocrtainlv a glorious one, and then came his final victory "over Long Set. which be defeated pointless, "i prefer him to Prince Palatine on the ground of looks, for there is more scope and grandeur about him, and if it be said he is a tritle short in his back ribs it is. nevertheless, true that his width and power of loin amply compensate for that. You have to look over him. however, from a close standpoint, to realize fully what I mean. To my eve ho lias more blood-like class and character tiuin Prince Palatine, but that is only a matter of individual judgment; the performances are on record. Thou as to breeding, here- again I slightly prefer Tracery, for we badlv waut a first-class stallion of No. in family, and Tracery supplies that want through such an unimpeachable channel as his granddam, Plaisanterie. which herself took in a second No. 10 line through Monarquo. and. of course, there are two other No. 19 crosses in Tracory. through Vedette lu St. Simon and Angelica. This combination of No. ID blood with No. 41, as represented bv Hock Sand, the sire of Tracery, lias been scoring "success after succeess on the continent and iias been hitherto unattainable in lngland. It may be at once admitted that Persimmon, the sire of Prince Palatine, was a greater race horse than Itock Sand, but there was a soft taint which came out in many of Ids stock, whereas the Itock Sands are bevonil reproach in this respect. Moreover. Rock S-uid has sired in Tracery a better horse by a good deal than himself, but no oue will claim for a mo ment that Prince Palatine is better than Persimmon. Glare is a splendid tap-root, beyond all question, but for the making of a stallion 1 thing Plais-anterie is a better, and this I say though I am personally interested in Prince Palatines uncle. Cornstalk, son of Glare, which was bred by the late Sir Daniel Cooper with a view to putting stamina into the family at the first remove, and that this was done with success Sam Darling, who trained Cornstalk, well knows. However, as in raciug merit, so in breeding, there is ample room to differ aliout Tracery and Prince Palatine without in the slightest degree depreciating either. Both are great race horses and both are beautifully bred. So let it rest and good luck to lMith of them! "The Special Commissioner" in London Sportsman.
