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RACING OF A GRAND FRENCH MARE. It is curious to contemplate the stud careers of some of the mares which were most famous on the turf, and amongst them may surely lie included M. Bettys French-hred mare. Plaisanterie, which was a top-sawyer as a three year-old, when she wound up a brilliant season by winning the Vs. now itch and Cambridgeshire, the one under 198 pounds, and the other under 124 pentads. In each race she had notable winners behind her. such is Florence, Althorp. Klnsfcy. Raffaelo and Eurasian In the Oesarewltch, aud Bendigo. Eastern Emperor, Thehais, Prism. Despair. Duke of Richmond. Isobar. Fiilmcn. Mlddlethorpe, The Sailor Prin o and Kibreene in the Cambridgeshire, but she won both races in a canter, and the second in particular was a fine performance. In addition she ran thirteen times on the Continent, and was only once Ix-aten when Martin Peclieur had a short head the best of her in the Prix du Prince de Galles. Among her victories was in eluded the Jubilee Prize of Baden. She was a splendid mare, by Wellingtoula out of Poetess, by Trocadero. and was foaled iu 18*2. What happened between the close of the racing career and her purchase by Sir Tatton Sykes I cannot say but her stud career at Sledmere was strangely Intermittent. As a snecalatioa she proved a sue cess, in spite or the fact that during her seven teen years she was seven times barren, slipped her foal twice and had one dead, having a balance of seven living foals. These, however, included some useful winners, of Which Childwick fetched 0,000 guineas, as a yearling, and won, among other races the Ccsarewitch. and later became one of the most successful sires in France. Raconteur, a useful horse until he turned roarer. Ste. Adresse and Hawkswiek, all sired by the Welbeck celebrity. realized respectively 3.000 guineas. 2.3 iO guineas and ."..100 guineas. The Wag made Sio guineas. Topiary 3.000 guineas and Jocatrix. Plaisanteries last produce in 1905. 810 guineas. Thus we have a total of 19.020 guineas for seven yearlings to set against ten failures. Topiary, by Orme. in spite of many attempts, only won one race for Lord Hamilton of Dalzell. who sold her with a colt foal by Bushev Park, and covered by Melton, lo go to America iu M88, when Mr A. Belmont secured a line bargain, for three years later she produced the great horse ltaery. to Ri ck Sand. Plaisanterie was twenty -four years old when she was destroyed in 1900. — "Vigilant" in Loudon Sportsman.
