FAMOUS RACEHORSES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 132, 14 January 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

FAMOUS RACEHORSES.

I'ORTUNES IN HORSEFLESH. The history of the Turf teems with stories of great racehorses, animals of the purest breed, in which .-peed, stani. ina, and <j;rit were combined ill the highest degree. Lew, however, had such a sensational career as the Duke of Westminster's celebrated horse Orme, which died a few weeks ago at the rare age of twenty-six, and whos*» -ire. Ormonde, was accounted ciu great( t racehorse of all time. During bis racing career Orme won 1';32,.">2S in stakes for his owner, and would have won much more, but unfortunately his career was marred by the act of a miscreant, who poisoned the horse while being trained for the Two Thousand Guineas. The poisoning of Orme was the sensation of 1802, and although a reward of IT.OOO was offered for the discovery of the poisoners, the', were never detected.

NEVER BEATEN. Ormo'a dam, Angelica, was the full -i.-ter of another great racehorse, St. Simon, which belonged to the Duke of Portland, who bought the animal for the eoniparat''voly small sum of 1,600 guineas. St. Simon, like Ormonde, was never beaten, and at one time was bringing in the Duke a revenue of {.•10.000 a vear. Altogether he earned CoOG.OOO. Vvw owner-, however, were more lucky in their purchase- of racehorses than the late Duke of Westminster. Doncaster was bought by him for £15,000. Although this'wa- a tall price, the animal won a fortune during its turf life for the Duke, and then sired Bend Or, which won the Derbv of issO. while Rend Or afterwards sired Ormonde, which brought in another fortune.

I'ndoubtedly the greatest bargain in horseflesh was Eclipse, which wafi purchased in the first instance for seventylive guineas, and earned with his progeny over £200.000. FOREIGN BUYERS Some amazing prices have been paid tur famoifi racehorses, however. Diamond Jubilee wa.s sold for 30,000 guineas, while it is generally believed that an ambit : oim breeder endeavoured to acquire King Edward's horse, Persimmon, for the sum of £50.000, but was told that Persimmon was not for sale. M. Diane, the famous French owner, paid 37,500 guineas for flying Fox; and when Velocity won the Doneaster Cup some years ago, 20,000 guineas was offered for the winner by a foreign Government and refused. Mr. J. B. Joel nlsn refused 35,000 guineas for iiis racehorse Your Majesty, son of Pers'mmon. Foreign countries have always been very anxious to acquire English horseflesh. The Argentine Republic bought Ormonde for £12,000, and also secured Mr. Bass's thirteen-year-old Cyllene for no less than £25,000. An Austrian sportsman paid £15.000 for Slieve Gallion, while (ialtee More, winner of the Derbv of I*o7, was sold to the Russ'an Government for £265,000.