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CHEAP MARES WHICH MADE HISTORY. Turning to the matter of cheap broodmares, it is evident that buyers for America aud the colonies have bad a unique opportunity during tbe past sK months of acquiring at low rates mares destined to become the dams of great winners. Who knows ? W. I Anson the elder founded the Blink Bonny Stud by the purchase for thirty sovereigns of Queen Mary which had already produced Braxeyt. after traveling practically all over Scotland to find her. Had he failed in his quest we should have had 110 Haricot, Blink Bonny, Caller On, Breadalbane, Brooiuic-law. Blinkhoolie. nor Blair Athol. Another great; broodmare. The Bloomer, dam of the Derby winner, George Frederick, and amongst others of Albert, Vic-tor which dead-heated with King of the Forest for second place to Favonius in the Bine Bibbou of 1871. was once sold in her earlier days for the bagatelle of a "pony" 25i. Neither of these, of course, was sold by auction, nor for that matter, was Laura. for which Mr. Gosden gave Sir John Astley ■ "pony," and which rewarded him by producing inter alia such equine gems as Fraulein and Petrarch, not to mention Hotberhill, which is one of the two sires to which the paternity of St. Gatien i» ascribed. Mr. Hammonds good colt being by Rutlicr-hill or The Rover. Many wonderful bargains, however, have been scoured by buyers at auction. U0JH of which may be mentioned in a future article. Just now in many cases I am afraid horses are a complete drug In the market as far as most homo buyers are concerned. Only the other day a winner of races, which should be capable of bringing further grist to the mill, was sent up for sale at Tatter-sails. He was worth to all seeming quite :;©0 pounds, but although entered to be sold for what lie might fetch, so that a bid of a single sovereign would have secured him. no one would offer even the sovereign. — "Vigilant" in London Sportsman.
