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SOME OLD HORSE HISTORY How St. Gatien Happened to Come to America Via Germany. "I read in a contemporary that when the late Mr. John Hammond sold St. Gatien for 0,000, the purchaser was well in on the transaction, but this is a mistake, for St. Gatien, though he sired Meddler in England, did little good at Graditz Stud, for which the late Count Lehndorff purchased him," writes Special Commissioner Allison in the London Sportsman. "He stood there for several years and finally, when I had control of Carnage three-parts brother to Carbine, and Count Lehndorff made overtures to buy that horse. 1 asked him 0,000. He eame over with his son and, having most thoroughly examined and tested Carnage, he finally offered 7,500 cash and St. Gatien for him. This I accepted and, in due course, St. Gatien returned to England and was at the Cobham Stud for several months, but not in the saason. Later on came a chance to realize on St. Gatien, for his son, Meddler, was going to be offered by auction in the United States and I cabled the late Mr. William Huston, who was an unrivaled auctioneer, asking him to offer St. Gatien himself as soon as Meddler had been disposed of, though it was far too late to have the old horse tlfere on view. He at once agreed, and I got the late Sir Henry Simpson veterinary surgeon by appointment to Queen Victoria to examine St. Gatien and certify as to his soundness and well-"belng. This, with Sir Henrys royal credential, was cabled over and Mr. Easton sold St. Gatien in his absence by auction for the equivalent of 1,500 guineas, the late Mr. J". B. Haggin being the buyer. That was, I think, the last sale of this famous horse. He reached America all right, and stood for some years at the Rancho del Paso Stud, California, where he got a few decent winners but nothing phenomenal. It is clear front the above that the original purchaser of him at 0,000 was far from well in on the transaction, and the ,500 which he eventually made left the price of Carnage at 5,000. Even so, ill luck pursued Count Lehndorff, for Carnage, though a much better looking horse than Carbine, and himself a winner of the Australian Derby, never got any stock in Germany worth mentioning. "In recording the above events I find it sad to realize that practically all the parties but myself are dead, though I suppose I ought to be thankful that I am not. Not only has Mr. J. B. Haggin gone, but also his manager, John Mackey, who used to be so well known at Newmarket sales especially when they sent many yearlings to England. John Mackey, whose gold teeth must remain in the memory of most who saw him, was a strange character, but he thoroughly knew his business in connection with bloodstock. It was he who bought Star Ruby from the Duke of Westminster, and Dicudonne from the Duke of Devonshire."
