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THICK-WINDED NOT ROARERS Cases of Toxophilite Long Ago and Persimmon and Sceptre More Recently. Toxophilite has long been dead and turned to dust, but through his wonderful son, Musket, and the bitters descendants Cabin, Spearmint. Maxim, Foul Shot and others which have; reached our shores, ho is still a potent factor in the breeding of England, Australia and the United States as well. This lends interest to the following observations concerning this horse from the entertaining pen of Englands master turf writer, AV. Allison, under the head of "Thick AVind": "We have read a great deal about Toxophilite of late and his supposed roaring infirmity, which must be more or less of a niyth, seeing that he started favorite in the Derby of his year and finished second to Beadsman, won the Ascot Derby, the Don-caster Stakes and other races, while, as a four-year-old, he won over the Ditch In more than two miles and the Queens Plate course at Goodwood, three miles five furlongs, beating Goahead and Gourd. This does not suggest any respiratory trouble at that time, and I suppose there never was a more severe course than that Queens Plate one at Goodwood, which is never used now. They started at the Charlton Down, to the northwest of the stand, ran over to the east of the clump to go the outside circle of the hill and returned to the east of the .clump about three miles five furlongs. That was Toxophilites last victory, but he ran for the Goodwood Cup which we now know is close on two miles six furlongs two days later, and there is, perhaps, little to wondvr at that in bis next race, the Burgundy Stakes at York August Meeting, we find the following Calendar record: "Four to 1 on Toxophilite. Toxophilite ruptured a blood vessel in the head and was pulled up at the distance." All this surely is against the tradition of his roaring, for who would lay 1 to 1 on a roarer over two miles, which was the distance of the race in question? CASES IN POINT. "I hardly think that stories about Toxophilite being a roarer are worthy of credence, nor does it really matter very much, anyway, for, as I said the other day, it is not possible to find a modern pedigree which is not chock-full of reputed roaring and bleeding lines, study it and excuse it as you may. There Is little doubt that many of the dubious cases may be classed under the head of thick wind, and animals so affected might be passed sound one day and rejected the next. Persimmon most certainly made a noise in running for the Middle Park Plate, when he was not quite up to the mark. Sceptre did so in most pronounced fashion in her first race at Goodwood, but after a strong gallop the next morning won, running away, jn the afternoon. She was, I believe, galloped two miles in the early morning when it was known that she was to be examined that day before the conclusion of her sale for 5,000. She and others of the Agnes family have inherited this peculiarity of thick wind it can hardy be styled an infirmity, for it does not stop them from covering any distance when they are fit. The only point against them is that they need to be clean wound up, and in a season like this "winding up" is a serious matter. It is nut disputed that Lemonora makes a noise of sorts, but it has not troubled him in the slightest degree when racing, and the Grand Prix fifteen furlongs over which he won is more severe than the fourteu furlongs at Doncaster. In short, there is really little or nothing to choose between Craig an Eran and Lemmiora, of which it is reckoned by some who should know best that Lemonora is at least as good a stayer as the 2,000 guineas winner, it not better. For myself, I cannot Imagine Craig an Eran failing to stay, but there is no doubt he hail better luck than his stable companion when running for the Derby, and the distance between them at the finish of the St. Lexer is not likely to be nearly so great, if they are both well on the day. Lemonora may owe his undoubted stamina to his double cross of Isonomy. The Agnes blood in his case does not come at the root of the pedigree, but through his graudam, AVord of Honour, by Saraband son of Muncaster. Her dam Gehcimuiss was a wonder of speed, but diI not stay. This, however, was the sort of basis on which the late Duke of Beaufort liked to breed, using a staying horse and a speedy marc, and on that scheme of breeding he produced letronel, by Musket, out of the sprinting Crytheia. . TOXOPHILITES OWNER. "It is probably more than half-forgotten by now that Toxophilite. when he ran for the Derby, for which lie started favorite, was the properly of Lord Derby. Who. was then prime minister, with Mr. Disraeli as leader of the house of commons. The favoritism of Toxophilite for the Derby was due possibly in a large measure to the public wish that Iortl Derby should bring off the double event of premiership and the Derby, which would have been something like a triple in his case; but it did not Unite come off, and Beadsman beat him by a length. There was an interval of many years after before a British prime minister did actually win the Derbv in 1894. and that triumph fell to the lot of Lord Rosebery with Ladas, which brought off my double event prophecy, that his lordship would be premier and win the Derby that year. If was a great double indeed and the zenith of Lord Roseberys great career, which, though it may be said to have reached the highest point of all its greatness then, by no means proceeded to sink to its setting, for two other home-bred Derby winners Sir Aisto and Cicero followed, and Lord Rosebery himself has again and again delighted audiences and readers. I do not think he is many years older than I am. and there is plenty of time for him to breed another Derby winner, especially if Moutein, which he sent to Grey Fox this year, should prove in foal and produce a colt. She has never yet bred anything but fillies."
