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MCALMONTS NOBLE WINNER PERFORMANCES OF THE GREATEST MONEY WINNING HORSE OF ALL TIME. How Isinglass Won the Triple Crown, Eclipse Stakes, Jockey Club Stakes, Ascot Gold Cup and Other Great Prizes of English Racing. In dealing with the famous horses of the past, one has no intention of endeavoring to proceed on "order of merit" line. Such a task would be both invidious and hopeless. Thus, in making Isinglass the subject of this article, nothing in particular is signified. At the same time, whatever the procedure followed, Isinglass would take a pretty hiU place, for there is no gainsaying that he was one yf the greatest horses of modern times. Isinglass was the property of that splendid sportsman Captain "Harry" McCalmont. by whom he was bred. He was by the famous Isonomy out of a Wenlock mare named Deadlock. This mare was purchased by Capt. Machell. to whom she had previously belonged, from Lord Alington for a mens song and was in 1887 mated with Isonomy, producing a colt which received the name of Islington. This animal failed to attain «ny great distinction: but after Deadlock had passed into the possession of Capt. McCalmont she was again mated with Isonomy. and the result of the second alliance was Isinglass. With other of Capt. MeCalmonts horses Isinglass was placed under the care of James Jewitt, w1m had charge of a strong team at the time. The colts debut was not heralded by any flourish o* trumpets, his first acquaintance with a race trace being made in a Maiden Plate at the Newmark.-t second spring meeting in 1892. Starting at 10 to 1 against, he wen by three parts of a length from Sweet Laura. His next effort was made in more exalted company, as he was one of the competitors for the New Stakes at Ascot, and the successful one at that, winning by two lengths from Fealar, with Ravensbury, which was destined to become his greatest rival, third. His final race as a two-year-old was in the Middle Park Plate, which ho won from Ravensbury. with Le Nicham third, and another which he frequently met later — Raebnrn— fourth. The second season career of Isinglass was opened in the Two Thousand, for which he started favorite at 5 to 4 on. and in which he beat Ravensbury bv three-quarters of a length with Raeburn four lengths away third. A fortnight later Mr. C. D. Rises colt had another tilt at his familiar rival in the Newmarket Stakes, which resulted in »n easy win for the Two Thousand hero. Isinglass next race was the Derby, for which he was naturally a warm favorite, 9 "to 4 being laid on. Isinglass again came through triumphantly, though there was a period in the race during whicu the portents were not altogether favorable. First Raeburn threatened to give trouble, and after he had been disposed of Ravensbury appeared in the light of a formidable competitor. Isinglass, however, liked a tussle, and settling to his work. ne. finally defeated Ravensbury by a length and a half. Raeburn again being third. The winning of the triple crown now seemed to be merely a matter of health for Isinglass, and as he was at his best when Doncaster came round, he duly realized expectations, beating Ravensbury by a half length, though that margin did not adequately reflect the amount be bad in hand of Ravensbury. which once more filled second place, with Le Nicham third. Thus the placings were similar to those in the Middle Park Plate in the previous October. The way in which "form" was constantly reproduced almost to a mathematical uiecty where the leading classic animals of the times were concerned was remarkable. Which prompts the reflection that Ravensbury was just about as unlucky as Minting in running up against the mighty Ormonde. That Ravensbury himself was well up to the standard of average Derby winners will scarcely be disputed. Apart from his continual "proximity" to Capt. MeCalmonts colt, he put on record several other sterling performances. As a four-year-old lie won the Manchester November Handicap with 130 pounds in tlie saddle, while in the following June be carried: off the Ascot Stakes despite the fact that he had to shoulder 135 pounds. He also won the Hard-wicke Stakes, beating La Fleche, on which odds of 5 to 1 were laid. To go back a little, however. Following the St. Leger, Isinglass was next seen at Manchester, where he took part in the rich Lancashire Plate. Among his three rivals for this race was Raeburn. to which the crack had to concede ten pounds. Many doubted his ability to do this, and the doubters scored when Isinglass failed by a length against the Duke of Portlands colt, thus sustaining his first and only defeat. When Isinglass made his first appearance as a four-year-old. in the Princess of Wales Stakes, a new star had risen in the firmament. This was Ladas, which had won for Lord Rosebery his first Derby. In the rich Newmarket race mentioned, then one of the ten-thousand pound events, odds were laid on the three-year-old. while Ravensbury was also preferred to Capt. MeCalmonts celebrity. The last named, however bad no difficulty in disposing of both Ladas and his old antagonist, but he experienced some trouble in disposing of the attentions of the 50 to 1 chance Bullingden. which was only defeated by the margin of a head. Isinglass was again opposed by Ijidas and Ravensbury. in addition to Raeburn and the future St. Leger winner Throstle, in the Eclipse Stakes. Tlie odds were on this occasion laid on the first named, though I.adas again commanded a goodly following. Lord Roseberys colt made a better fight at the second time of asking, but even so had to be content with second place to his older classic-rival. Isinglass only other appearance this year was made in the Jockey Club Stakes, in which he once more found himself opposed to Throstle and Raeburn. The filly, which had then won her Don-caster laurels, was deemed to be the chief source of danger to Isinglass, but she was in no mood for racing. Instead she bolted and did not pass the post, the favorite winning comfortably from the French Gouvernail, with Son o Mine third. Thus Isinglass swept the board of the ten-thousand pound events; and this representing a tolerably good years work: the colt retired for the season. There was indeed little left for him to accomplish apart from adding his name to the list of Gold Cup winners, and this he was afforded the opportunity of doing. The opposition to the son of Isonomy was not strong, being, as it was. confined to Reminder and KillsallaKhan, though both these were useful. Reminder had run third in Ladas Derby, aud afterwards won the City and Suburban, while Killsalla ghan proved good enough to win a Chester Cup. Neither of them, however, could make any impression upon Isinglass at Ascot, the race ending in a three-lengths victory for the champion. — "J. F. P." in Sporting Life.
