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GRAND RACING CAREER OF ISINGLASS Performances of tha Greatest Money -Winning Horso of All Time Defeated but Once. In dealing with tiie famous horses or the past, 0110 has no intention of oudenvoring to proceed on "order of merit" line. Such a task would be both invidious and hopeless. Thus, in making Isinglass the snbiect of this article, nothing in particular is signified. At the same time, whatever the procedure followed, Isinglass would take a pretty high place, for there is no gainsaying that lie was one of the greatest hores of modern times. Isinglass -was the property of that splendid sportsman Captain II.irry" 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. Mac-hell, to whom she had previously belonged, from Lord Alington for a mere ;song and .was in 1SS7 mated with Isonomy, producing a colt which received the name of Islington. This animal failed tu attain any 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. AVith other of Capt. McCalmonts horses, Isinglass was placed under the care of James Jewitt, who had charge of a strong team at the time. The colts debut was not tyoraldod by any flourish of trumpets, his first acquaintance with a race track being made in a maiden plate at the Newmarket second spring meeting in 1892. Starting at 10 to 1 against, he won by three parts of a length from Sweet Laura. His next effort was made in more exalted company, as be 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 he won from Ravensbury, with Le Nicham third and another which ho frequently met later Raeburn fourth. TRIPLE CROWN WINNER. 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 by three-quarters of a length, with Raeburn four lengths away third. A fortnight later Mr. O. D. Roses colt had another tilt at his familiar rival in the Newmarket Stakes, which resulted in an easy win for the Two Thousand hero. Isinglass next race was the Derby, for which he Mas naturally a warm favorite, 9 to 4 being laid on. Isinglass again came through triumphantly, though there was a period in the race during which the portents were not altogether favorable. First Raeburn threatened to give trouble, and after ho had been, disposed of Ravensbury appeared in the light of a formidable competitor. Isinglass, however, liked a tussle, and settling to his work, he finallv 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 Donc.-ister came round, he duly realized expectations, beating Ravensbury by a half length, though that margin did not adequately Teflect the amount he had in hand of Ravensbury, which once more filled second place, with Le Nicham third. Thus the placlngs were similar to those in the Mldflle Park Plate in the previous October. The wayin which form" was .eoijstautly produced almost to a mathematical nicety wbero the leading classic animals of the times were .concerned was remarkable. AVhich 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 Derbv winners will scarcely be disputed. Apart from Ids continued "proximity" to Capt. McCal-.monts colt, he put on record several other sterling "performahce3. -As a four-year-old lie won the Manchester November Handicap with 130 iounds in the saddle, while in the following June he carried off the Ascot Stakes despite the fact that he had to shoulder 135 pounds. He also won the Hard-wieke Stakes, beating La Fleche, on which odds of 5 to 1 were laid. FIRST AND ONLY DEFEAT. To go back a little, however. Followiug the St. Leger, Isinglass was next seen at Manchester, where ho took part in the ricli 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. AVhen Isinglass made his first, appearance as a four-year-old, in the Princess of AVales Stakes, a. new star had risen in the firmament. This was Ladas, whiWi had won for Lord Rosebery Ills first Derby. In the rich Newmarket nice mentioned, then one of the ten thousand pound events, odds were laid -on the three-j-ear-old, while RaViaisbury was also preferred to Capt, McCalmonUs. celebrity. The last . named, however, had no difficulty in disposing of both.Lndas and his old antagonist, but he experienced some trouble in disposing of the nt tCnticms Of the 50 to 1 chance Bulllngden, - which was only defeated by the margin of a head. Isinglass was acaln opposed by Ladas and Ra-vensburjs in addition to Rueburn and the future St. Leger winner, Throstle, In the Eclipse Stakes. The odds were, on this occasion, laid on the first named, though Ladns again commanded a goodly following. Lord Eoselierys colt made a better fight at the second time of asking, but even o had to be content with second place to ids 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 Doneaster laurels, was deemed to be the chief source of dunger 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 Goii-vernail, willi Sou o Mine third. Thus Isinglass swept the board, of the ten thousand pound events, and this representing a tolerable good years work, the colt was retired for the year. There was indeed little left for him to accomplish apart from adding his name to the list of Gold Cup winners and this, lie was afforded the opportunity of doing. The opiosition to the son of Isonomy was not strong, being, as it was, confined to Reminder and Klllsallaghan, though both these were useful. Reminder had run third in Ladas Derby anil afterwards won the City and Suburban, while Klllsallaghan proved good enough to win a Chester Cup. Neither of them, however, could make any impression upon Isinglass at Ascot, the nice ending in a three lengths victory for the champion. "J. F. 1." in Sporting Life.
