Fortunes spent on Horses.

Manawatu Herald, 30 January 1894, Page 2

Fortunes spent on Horses.

Horseflesh at £30,000 a head comes rather high, but Ormonde, the Derby winner, commanded such a price. In the ten races Ormonde ran under the colors of the Duke of Westminister, the grand stallion won about £80,000. The Duke of Westminster then sold him to Senor Jose Bocau for £14,000, and all England mourned when the unbeaten thoroughbred was carried away to the Argentine Republic.

Although Ormonde was said to be afflicted with roaring, English turfmen were so displeased with the loss of the noble animal, that a syndicate raised nearly £20,000 for the ' purpose of ending the great horse's exile and restoring him to the English turf. An American, however, went to Argentina with £27,---000 in his pocket and offered that princely sum for Ormonde. This bid seemed away beyond competition, but California possessed a young millionaire named Macdonough, who offered £80,000 for a horde ho hud never seen, and secured the coveted prize. Neatly eighteen years ago the Duke of Westminster paid £14,000 for Doneaster, grandsire of Ormonde, and it is interesting to note how the investment turned out. Doncaster won a fortune daring his career, and then sired Bend Or, which captured the English Derby in 1880, and also made a fortune for his owner. Then Bend Or sired Ormonde, who won £30,000 for the Duke, and was afterwards sold for £14,000. Orme, one of Ormonde's sous, has already taken into camp a small fortune, and is still in hi 3 heyday of usefulness. It is very apparent from this that the duke fairly coined money on his original investment of £14,000. Among the other high-priced English horses wore the £13,000 Blair Athol, £6000 Priam, the £8000 Flying Dutchman, the £9000 Isonomy, and the £10,000 Meiton, Scottish Chiet and Robert the Divil, each sold for £8000, and Eayon dOr sold for the same amount. Common,, winner of the Derby and St Leger of 1891, was sold to Sir Blundell Maple for £15,000.— Exchange.