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SOME GOSSIP ABOUT ROCK SAND. Also ill France there is Rock Sand at the l.el Flint Stud, near Paris. A few nominations to him tan be s-eured at 5:o guineas, and large though this fee seems to be, it is not out of proportion to the value of his son. Tracery, for which an offer of 40.000 guineas was refused. Uock Sand possesses Ihe very great credential that, good horse as in himself was on the turf, he has sired a better limn himself for 1 think no one will deny that Truceiy is better than his sire. There are many oilier "good Uock Sands, however, besides Tracery, anil 1 know that Mr. Belmont thinks the unfortunate cci out of Black Poplar, which smashed a fetlock j hit at Goodwood and had to be destroyed, was the hesr he ever bred. We have recently been treated l much discussion about commissions in bloodstock business, and how they are paid, and it may be we!l to note that the sale of Uock Sand to Mr. Rilicon! was an exception to the general rule, inasmuch as the price was not made in guineas, but ill pounds, viz.. 25,000 pounds. Mr. Belmont paid, sii aralely. an agreed amount for commission. This ;s tin only transaction in my somewhat extensive xi irh-nce" which was carried out in Mimds and not. ui guineas. For what sum Mr. Belmont sold Itock Sand lo M. Ilalbroims syndicate I do not exactly know, but it is safe to say that it was for a larger amount than he had given for the son of Sainfoin. Some day we shall see Rock Sands old stable companion and rival. Flotsam, ranking equally high as a stallion. Each horse was handicapped by being leit abroad, hut Itock Sand got his chance by hav-his stock sent to England and France to run, BrTiUc Flotsams remained in 1ruguay. However. Ihls ..car we shall have Flotsam I wo-yoar-ohls run-L ning. and then there will be developments. It Liuiist have been a trying time for George Blackwell Prvheii he had Itock Sand and Flotsam in his stable Fand each owner believed his own colt the better. L I- lotsaiu did, in fact, beat Rock Sand for the Middle Park Plato, but after the Two Thousand Guineas Bprudeuee might have suggested running him for the Hraud lri.v instead of for the Derby. There is a :ood Rock Sand horse staudinc; at the Manderstoii tud. Newmarket. This is Rock Flint, which on Hiis best form had clew pretentions to bo ranked as W the best of his year. He is out of a Meddler mare, w and is inbred to that great horse Springfield. At a lee of ,; guineas he is very well worth using. 15y the way, M. Halbronn came very near to being the lirst purchaser of Rock Sand, for he did, in fact, olfer IO.OOO guineas for the horse, and I remember arguing with one of Sir Jaines Millers executors that it was a good price anil they ought to take it. They, however, claimed that as Rock Sand was juite s.s gcod as Diamond Jubilee he ought to make .lil.JOO guineas. In the midst of the argument came II r. Belmonts offer of 25,000 pounds, and this, after some hesitation, they accepted. The value of bloodstock has been constantly appreciating since that timet but it was good value for the horse as he then was. "The Special Commissioner" in London Sportsman.
