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FAMED AS FLAT RACER AND JUMPER Wonderful Performance of the Old Time Celebrity Hesper in the Great Sandown Hurdle Race. Among horses that combined jumping with service on the flat Hesper by Speculum Hesperithusa holds a prominent -place. Something was thought of him as a two-year-old, when lie took part in eleven races and was freouently running in good company. Though he usually found something too good for him, lie won twice in 1S75, and at three years, again out of eleven occasions, he . was thrice successful. In the Xentfocd brakes tit the NewtnarkeCfirsst October nieetinjrhe npset good odds on the speedy Lowlander, and was sold out of that race for 2,000 guineas to Lord Lonsdale, in whose colors he subsequently took the Brighton Autumn Handicap. The purchase turned out profitable, for he went through qu:te a Brilliant season as a. four-year-old, and during it, of the dozen races in which he competed, he won the Epsom Cup. Liverpool Plate, Cleveland Handicap at Dan-caster, Leicestershire Handicap and the Trial Stakes at the Newmarket Houghton. These were all won in fair class over distances of a mile to a mile and a half, and as a five-year-old he put in another period of good service. He had been found useful over obstacles and showed it in March by winning the Grand International hurdle race at Croydon by ten lengths witli lfi pounds up from horses some of which had made a name at the sport. How good a thing it was considered for him was shown by the acceptance of 0 to 4 about his chance at the start, and he could not have scored in more brilliant style. Resuming on the flat, he won the Liverpool Spring Cup under 12S pounds, and followed up the next day witli the Prince of Wales Cup. After three unsuccessful essays he again showed his- jumping ability by accounting for the Great Sandown hurdle race in May, for wliich, despite his big burden of 1S2 pounds, slight odds were laid on him. The verdict in his favor was twenty lengths from Citizen, a horse that had good fonn in that class of contest and to which he gave twenty-three pounds. This was among the best performances ever accomplished in a hurdle race, and, as it was Hespers last appearance "over the sticks," he made a name for himself by winning eacli of his three races in smashing style. Sucli a record might have earned him impossible weights in events of a similar character, and the rest of his career was devoted to racing on the flat. In that year lie continued to do well, and one of his notable performances was giving four pounds to the Lincolnshire Handicap winner Kaleidoscope in the Liverpool Plate. His last appearance was in the Chesterfield Cup at Goodwood, when he carried 130 pounds and was unplaced to Midlothian, wliich on the first day of the meeting had won a sensational Stewards Cup. Loudon Sportsman.
