THE HI STO RY O F HER CA REER O N THE TU RF

o~ _

WITH A PH OT O G RAVU R E F R O N T I S P I E C E AN D TW ENTY-TWO OTH E R ILLU STRATIONS

no. I “ r

I i . —l ‘ N EW YO RK JOH N LA N E COM PA N Y M OM V U

THE HI STORY O F HER CA REER O N T E TU RE W H

fia—‘ n—H J M WITH A PHOT O G RAV U R E F R O N T I S P I E C E AN D TW E N TY-TWO OTH E R I L LU STRATIO N S

N EW YO RK : JOH N LANE COM PANY M CM V II N D s WI LLI A M BRE ou , LTD. M AJO R E U STA CE LO D E R THE FO RTUN A TE BREEDER A ND O WNER OF THE M A RE O F ALL THE CENTU RIES THIS W ORK I S (BY PERMISSION) D EDICA TED BY THE A UTH OR

CON TEN TS

C H APT E R I

THE COMING OF POLLY

C H APT E R I I

THE TREBLE EVEN T

C H A PT E R I I I THE REVERS E AT LONGCHAMP

C H A PT E R I V

THE CORO NATION CU P — AND AFTER

C H A PT E R V

THE LA ST CORONATION OF PRETTY POLLY

C H APT E R V I

THE T RAGEDY OF AS COT

A PP E N D I CE S

R F R T A . PEDIG EE O P E TY POLLY

’ S S B . COMPLETE RECORD OF P R ETTY POLLY RACE

I LLU STRATI ON S

' ' PRETTY POLLY (Photogravure) F r ontzspzece

’ R T T The ns To ace ae 2 P ET Y POLLY S FIRS RACE ( Fi i h) . f p g GALLIN ULE

M R T O t c o t oa s n ass now AD I A I N (Wi h l f l by I i gl , Admirable Crichton)

n u P RETTY POLLY (W . Lae p)

Cann n u S T M T . o . A AN (K p)

' LITTLE MIS S U S (P retty Polly s Companion)

R THE R T Ma en u H EN Y F I S (0 . dd p)

P RESTO I I ( By Rueil — Mademoiselle Prefere)

MACDONALD I I (By Bay Ronald— Myrtled ene)

HAMME RKOP ( By Gallinul e — Concussion)

Z INFAN DEL (By P ersimmon— Medora)

CAIU S ( By Reverend — Choic e)

’

K R R D . n u HAC LE S P I E ( B Dillo p) .

ADULA ( By Gallinu le— Admiration)

ACHILLES ( By A vington— Ankl es)

CICERO (By Cyllene— Gas)

’ P RETTY P OLLY S T RAINER A ND J OCKEYS

’ Ma r u BACHELOR S BUTTON ( D . he p) MAJOR E USTACE LOD ER

E YREFI E LD O THE C RR L DGE , U AGH

CLAREHAVE N LODGE , N EWMARKE T

CLARE HAVE N OD M RK T Th e taes L GE, NEW A E ( S bl )

C HAPTE R I

TH E CO MI N G O F PO L LY

A N DOW N PARK was looking its very best on

2 th 1 0 Saturday, June 7 , 9 3 , the concluding after of M noon the First Summer eeting , a date to be ever memorable in the annals of the Turf, for this per

’ fect summer s day was to witness the d ebut of a filly whose name is now writ exceeding large in history, and whose equal as a racehorse the present generation has never seen and , it is safe to add , never will see . The race chosen to be the first essay in public of the chestnut daughter of Gallinule and Admiration , known

- as Pretty Polly, was the British Dominion Two Year all Old Race , an d it is the only race in her long career for which she has not started first favourite , that

’ position being occupied by Sir John Thursby s colt ,

’ ’ 2 Mr Musker s John o Gaunt , who started at to I , . Jack

r 2 Hawtho n being second in demand at 7 to , the Duke B 2 PRETTY POLLY

’ Of Lanfine Portland s coming next at 4 to I , while

Pretty Polly was supported at sixes . W hen the barrier ascended , Pretty Polly was quickest into her stride , and before half the journey had been

’ accomplished was out with a ten lengths lead , and won

’ V r ia O Mr e . by that distance from g ; John Gaunt , whom h Thursby had eased up when pursuit was opeless , being third , a neck behind the second . Onlookers were astounded at this display by the

eneral winner, and it was at first the g opinion when they saw her out in front of her field with such a tremendous lead that the start must have been a false one .

This , however, was by no means the case , as the start was really a good one , and what had really hap pened was that the further they went the further did the winner gallop away from her horses . To Trigg belongs the privilege of having steered her

‘ th is th e initial in race of her glorious career . Any lingering doubts which might have remained in the minds of spectators as to the genuine character of her first Victory were finally dispelled by the manner in

Bobrinski M which she disposed of , arsden , and eight M others at the July eeting at Sandown , when she started

2 at to I and won in hollow style by two lengths .

Pretty Polly is a dark chestnut with a white star,

1 and now stands sl ightly over 5 3 .

TH E COMI NG OF POLLY 3

As a two-year— old she showed tremendous quality of build for that early age . The one thing which impresses any one looking at her more than anything else is her wonderful quarters , which give her that extraordinary leverage power which caused spectators to imagine that she was merely cantering when her Opponents were galloping their very hardest .

The daughter of Admiration was bred by her owner, M ajor Eustace Loder, at his stud farm in Ireland ,

E yrefield Lodge .

Her dam was singularly unsuccessful as a racehorse , a fact , by the way, which is not seldom the case with dams of great horses , and it certainly does not follow as a matter Of course that a mare of great racing repu i n tat o achieves a success on going to the stud .

Gallinule , her sire , had previously got stock who shone rather as sprinters than stayers , although Rock C Dove , a esarewitch winner , was a notable exception ; but the victories of Hammerkop and of the subject of these pages over a distance of ground have effectually disposed of the fallacy that Gallinules cannot stay .

Clarehav en ew Pretty Polly was trained at Lodge , N

Mr market , by . Peter Purcell Gilpin , who has achieved such wonderful successes with the mares under his care .

I n addition to Pretty Polly , other mares that have 4 PRETTY POLLY achieved distinction under his control during the past two or three years , are Adula , winner of the Park H ill C Stakes , Doncaster ; Hammerkop, winner of the esare

1 0 Of witch , 9 5 ; and Flair, winner the One Thousand

1 06 Guineas , 9 . Following on her success at the Second Summer M eeting at Sandown Park , Pretty Polly annexed the

M O ersey Stakes at Liverpool , her solitary pponent on this occasion being the Navaretta colt .

The next time that she carried the yellow, dark blue

Of sleeves , an d black cap her owner was in the rich

C O Of hampagne Stakes , run on the pening afternoon the Doncaster September Meeting . Her chief Opponent on this occasion was reckoned to

’ Mr be . Leopold de Rothschild s bay colt St . Amant , by

L r . ov e ule St Frusquin out of Lady , who was con s id ered to be the best two-year— Old of his year among the colts , having up to then run twice and earned winning brackets on each occasion .

e Ther was not much between them in the betting , Pretty Polly being in fractionally greater request at

1 1 I O 6 to , whilst to 4 was laid against St . Amant . W . Lane for the first time rode the flying filly , Halsey having had the mount on the last two days she was out , an d the winning connection between these two

’ continued until poor Lane s acci d ent in the autumn Of the following year rendered a separation inevitable .

THE COMI NG OF POLLY 5

C The field for the hampagne Stakes numbered five , and the favourite gave them no quarter, for she won in

c anter b . a j a length and a half from Lancashire , St fi y

Amant being third , two lengths away .

’ Excuses for St . Amant s ignominious defeat were mad e on the ground that the colt had been pricked in shoeing , and it was confidently predicted that when the

S pair next met he would make a better how . I n the meantime Pretty Polly travelled to Man

’ chester and beat Don Paez in the Autumn Breeders

2 Foal Plate , starting at 5 to I on .

O She then afforded St . Amant an pportunity of taking M his revenge in the iddle Park Plate , run at the Second

- October Meeting at head quarters . This race is sometimes called the Two-Year-Old

Derby, because it generally is expected to reveal the possessor of the best claim to future classic honours .

There were seven runners , including the three horses placed in the Champagne Stakes . I t is curious to remark that for some unexplained reason the bookmakers were inclined to field strongly against the eventual winner .

At first 3 to I was asked for , but at one time it was possible to get on by laying as little as 7 to 4 ; 2 to I on being the price deman ded at the start .

I n the actual race Pretty Polly, who was drawn in the centre , was , as usual , quickest away . 6 PRETTY POLLY

I n the Dip St . Amant took second place , but was signally unable to make any kind Of impression on the favourite , who made the whole of the running and won in a canter by three lengths , a length separating

St . Amant from Hands Down . Pretty Polly therefore decisively confirmed the Cham pagne running , and proved beyond all doubt her claim to rank as far and away the best two-year-old of the year . She brought up her winning sequence to nine races by winning both the C riterion Stakes and the Moulton Stakes at the Houghton Meeting

I n the former she defeated Hands Down , and in the

“ latter Bitters , and two others , and in each case the

f 1 Ring demanded odds O 00 to 7 .

- -Old This wonderful filly , whose two year career had been such a phenomenally successful one , then retired into winter quarters with an unbeaten certificate . C HAPTE R I I

TH E T R E B L E EV E N T

U RI NG the winter months there was much speculation in the sporting columns of the Press as to how the daughter of Gallinule

- -Old would acquit herself as a three year , and as to “ whether or not she would train on . t As has been before stated , here has existed an idea among many people that Gallinule ’ s stock are unlikely

Of to stay , and consequently at this early stage Pretty Polly’ s career there were not a few who predicted that

- - so forward a two year old was not likely to train on , and that although she might shine as a brilliant sprinter she would fail over any longer course than six or seven furlongs . On the other hand there w ere plenty of people who confidently predicted that a greater than Sceptre had

O arisen , and this pinion was given practical weight to by the taking of the very narrow odds of 6 to I that the filly did not win the One Thousand , Oaks , and

St . Leger . 8 PRETTY POLLY Treble events on these particular races must be very

O rare nowadays , but these were the dds taken towards the close Of the recess when it was known that the filly had wintered well . The Two Thousand G uineas were won easily enough by St . Amant , whose superiority over the colts of his own age was thus confirmed . On the afternoon Ofh erfirst classic race Pretty Polly was early on View in the paddock preceded by a cob to

accom which she was much attached , and who always panied her to the course . " The filly fully bore out the assertion that she had wintered well , and had thickened out a little , although she had not grown more than half an inch . Pretty Polly’ s sweet temper is not the least of her good qualities , and she submitted with the utmost good grace to be surrounded by a crowd of spectators While she was being saddled . in The field for the One Thousand totalled seven ,

’ L Fianc ee cluding ord Falmouth s unbeaten filly , an d M the alton filly Barbette , who had won the Gimcrack

Stakes at the York August Meeting . The former looked very fit and was confidently

" expected to be the runner up to the favourite , but the race was looked upon to be such a certainty for Pretty

I 6 O f Polly that she started at 4 to on , to I being f ered

Fianc ee against . Four minutes after the s cheduled

I O PRETTY POLLY

z Oaks , as it was universally recogni ed that , so long as M ’ ajor Loder s wonderful filly kept fit and well , the race was a good thing for her . Consequently the Opposition was numerically one of

— e the weakest on record , numbering only three Fianc e ,

n r Mi d ed . Bitters , and St .

The favourite was , as usual , preceded in the paddock

Old by her friend the cob , and looked a perfect picture , and she had evidently done good work since her last

. Of outing From a wagering point View, the race was practically left out by backers , for only those who had backed the favourite weeks before the race , or who , like one man I know, got one of his bookmakers to lay him 60 to 40 twice against Pretty Polly winning

Oaks and Leger, were able to get on at an equitable

1 00 8 1 00 price , as to on was the starting price , to 7

O Fianc ee 2 0 being ffered against , to I Bitters , and 1 00 Min d r d . to I St . e

There was practically no delay at the post , and Fianc ee Off got first , but after a hundred yards had been covered , Bitters settled down in front of the

Fianc e favourite and e.

Six furlongs from home Pretty Polly drew out clear,

.Of and making the remainder the running , won in hol low fashion by three lengths from Bitters (who twisted

Fianc ee her off fore plate), being a bad third , about a

Mind red hundred yards behind , while St . was beaten

TH E TREBLE EVE NT I I

about a quarter Ofa mile by the winner . A procession

6 . truly " Time : 2 mins . 4 Asecs I n spite of this decisive victory over a mile and a half, there were still some who disbelieved in Pretty

’ Polly s staying ability . I t is quite true that she changed her legs towards the

subse close of the race for the Oaks , but this , as quently proved , was a habit of hers . " An eminent trainer, who saw the Oaks , was reported after the race to have said that she would not win the

Leger . I have a strong suspicion that this gentleman is the same man as the one who said after the Jockey Club

C u p that she was all out . Perhaps my readers will be Of Opinion that some one “ " " was certainly all out , but not Pretty Polly In the interval between Epsom and Doncaster she appeared twice in public , on both occasions against

fillies of her own age . C I n the oronation Stakes , at Ascot , she defeated M ontem and six others , and at Goodwood , in the fifth - o Nassau Stakes , she ran away from two rate p

onents p , starting at 5 to I on in the first race , and

33 to I on in the second .

M . O Edmond Blanc , who had btained second place

1 0 to Rock Sand in the Derby of 9 3 , with Vinicius , had attempted to improve on his luck with Gouvernant , a

Of son Flying Fox. 1 2 PRETTY POLLY I t will be well within the memory of those that read

M Of these pages that . Blanc was the purchaser this

Of Of famous horse when , on the death the late Duke

W z estminster, he was put up for sale and reali ed the record price ever paid for a racehorse . I t is perhaps besi de the point to descant on the pity it was that such a stallion was allowed to leave the country, but our loss was W the gain of France . ith the sons of this sire , Ajax ,

’ d Or ard Gouvernant , Adam , Val , and J y , his owner has

Ow n since swept the board in his country, and he stood a very good chance of being the first owner to emulate

’ the performance Of Count de Lagrange s Glad iateur in the Derby .

Gouvernant , whether owing to the elements or to the

' journey , failed to make his mark in St . Amant s Derby , although his subsequent performances stamped him as a real good horse .

’

It had been his owner s intention . to send Ajax to

Of Doncaster , but he succumbed to the exigencies train

’ - u 0 . ing , as d id the Derby runner p, John Gaunt

The field was consequently left to the English horses , and only those who still doubted the staying qualities Of Pretty Polly could imagine that the Derby winner

- — would reverse the two year old form between the pair . Consequently Pretty Polly became a strong odds on

v 2 favourite and e entually started at 5 to on .

The St . Leger is to us , who dwell in the north , and

1 4 PRETTY POLLY

But if St . Amant could gallop fast , the favourite could gallop faster, and when on coming round the

let . bend Lane her go , she promptly collared St A mant

S (who declined to make any further how), and thence forward Pretty Polly, making the remainder of the run ning , won in a canter by three lengths from Henry the First (the surprise of the race) and A lmsc liff (who finished six lengths behind the second) in 3 minutes

4 a 1 w " 53 seconds . St . Amant s last Two days later Pretty Polly attempted the task in which Sceptre had failed , and ran in the Park H ill

- - Stakes for three year old fillies over the St . Leger course . 2 1 Starting at 5 to on , she completed her task with consummate ease , winning in a canter by three lengths from Bitters and three others . Shortly after Doncaster it was announced that Pretty

’ Polly s next engagement would be the Prix d u Conseil

Municipal run at Longchamp early in October . Opinions were divided as to the advisability or other

' of was wise this step , which , owing to the conditions of th ' fill th e e . race , very like running y in a han d icap Penalties are imposed in proportion to the value of races won , and consequently both Pretty Polly an d Zin fandel , who was also entered , were heavily penalised ,

5 t . 8 st 1 . having to carry 9 % lb . and 9 . lb respectively . People who remembered that this race had not been

THE TREBLE EVE NT 1 5

won by an English competitor for many years , and con sid ered the conditions of the race and reflected as to the stormy nature of the crossing at this time of the year, shook their heads and were inclined to think that it was unwise to risk a possible reverse . On the other hand it was argued by the majority that those connected with the filly were acting in a very sporting manner in thus throwing down the gauntlet to

France , and in desiring to prove that the flying English three-year-old was incontestably the best Of any age in o either country, and that a horse of the calibre fPretty Polly was superior to all conditions either of weight or climate . C HAPTE R I I I

TH E R EV E RS E AT LO N GC H AMP

8th M N Saturday, October , D . aher rode the winner of the Duke of York Stakes at K empton Park , and left by the night boat for Paris to fulfil his retainer for Pretty Polly in the

d u C M Prix onseil unicipal , which is perhaps better

’ d A u t mn known to Parisians as the Grand Prix o e.

A change of jockeys was inevitable , owing to the fact

W . that Lane , who had ridden the filly in several of

- - her earlier races , and all her three year old victories up to date , had sustained a terrible acci dent by the falling

B elosselsk Lin field of y at g , in September, and was then , and for long after, hovering between life an d e death , b ing unconscious for weeks , and only eventually recovering after months of convalescence . Maher had never previously ridden Pretty Polly in

Of any her races , but he was well conversant with the

Paris course , and had ridden winners there in his earlier days before he settled in England , and had the C previous year been up on the secon d to La amargo ,

’ W avelet s Pride . TH E REVE RS E AT LONGC HAMP 1 7 It is probable that no better jockey could have been d substituted for Lane un er the circumstances , and , in the light of certain conjectures subsequently mad e in connection with the race , it is well to remember that he had the mount on Pretty Polly in the Free Handicap

C 1 0 . a fortnight later, and in the hampion Stakes in 9 5

Zinfandel , who may be remembered as unfortunately debarred from attempting classic honours owing to the

d u death of his nominator , was also entered in the Prix

C M h e onseil unicipal , and it may , I think , stated with considerable confidence that England was represented n by the best mare and the best horse in traini g , and that never before or since have such a pair crossed the e Channel to do battle under the bann r of St . George . Zinfandel crossed early in the ‘week preced ing the

" race , but Pretty Polly was delayed at Folkestone by bad weather , an d eventually reached Paris , after a rather choppy voyage , two days before the race . On the Saturday evening the rain poured down literally in torrents , and the course was thereby con verted into exceed ingly heavy going . Next morning the sun shone brightly on a perfect autumn day , with just a tinge of frost in the clear air . e The crowd on the cours was quite a record one ,

“ and the stan ds were filled with people, many English

' being present to witness th e international race of the afternoon . 1 8 P RETTY POLLY

Ypsilanti , the dual winner of the Great Jubilee , ran in the Prix Newmarket , ridden by Bernard Dillon , but he was unable to get nearer than third to Mon a sieur Charvet and M Lady Lu . A few minutes later the competitors for the Prix d u C onseil Municipal of one hundred thousand francs were on view in the paddock . They numbered eight . M Of the French horses engaged , acdonald I I had

- far and away the best class winning form , and to the English horses and himself the three places were uni versall y assigned by public Opinion .

Pretty Polly was , of course , the cynosure of all eyes as she walked round the paddock preceded by her travelling companion .

It may have been fancy , or it may be that in the light of future events their shadow was cast before , fl but I certainly thought that she seemed a tri e listless , and that when she cantered down to the post she did not move with the fire and dash of the St . Leger afternoon a month before .

M t e M eanwhile , h offices of the Par i utuel were crowded with Englishmen an d Frenchmen , tumbling over each other to back one or other of the English horses , and , in the majority of cases , of course , Pretty

Polly, or rather her number, was the selected one . There are certainly advantages connected with this mode of betting ; but I think that the old-fashioned

2 0 PRETTY POLLY to the consternation of all this is exactly what did not happen . N either horse appeared to be able to go any faster , and when Cannon and Maher called on their mounts neither could respond , and one missed the electrical rush with which Pretty Polly had swept past her horses in the Leger , just as Sceptre had swept past Rock San d C in the Jockey lub Stakes a year before . The hopes of England and Of an English triumph are finally dashed to the ground , for the outsi d er with the mauve sleeves and cap has passed the post winning easily by two an d a half lengths from Pretty Polly , with M Zinfandel half a length behind , acdonald I I four lengths further off, an d the remainder of the field -a strung out in long line .

— 1 0 . The numbers are hoisted , 5 , 3 The outsider is so much an outsi d er that probably no foreign visitor know s w at h h he is , and all that e knows is that the

French have won .

1 0 Number is Presto I I by Rueil out of Mlle . e e M Pr f re , owned by . Gaston Dreyfus , ridden by

Ransc h . L La M ffite . J , and trained by awrence at aisons A 66 to 1 outsider had overthrown the form Of both

France and England , and Pretty Polly had to submit to the unkind fate Of defeat by an i mmeasurably in ferior animal .

Those were not the days of the entente cord iale ,

TH E REVERS E AT LONGC HAMP 2 1 and the d efeat Of England was not unwelcome to the national pride even if it did not fill or rather might have emptied the private pocket .

Ah , ces Anglais shouted a lady close to me as the horses passed the post , and instinctively the retort in

’ h er own language sprang to my lips : W e d i d n t talk like that , madame , when Gouvernant was beaten at Epsom " Such a remark from a total stranger must have con siderabl y astonished her, but at the moment one felt

’ incapable of restraining one s natural feelings . The remainder of that afternoon was spent in won dering how it had all happened , and if it could really be true that Pretty Polly had run for (and lost) her six te nh e t race . Next morning the Gare d u Nord presented the ap . pearanc e of the retreat from Moscow as the English and contingent entrained for the return journey , eagerly were the sporting papers bought up on Calais Pier to see what they would say an d what explanation the Turf journalists would think fit to give .

And now it must be stated that , among a certain

O section of racing men , the pinion (which was ventilated with respect to the Ascot Gold C up when Sceptre an d Zinfandel succumbed to Throwaway) exists that in the Prix d u Conseil Municipal the English jockeys were so busy watching each other that they allowed Presto I I to 2 2 PRETTY POLLY

O steal the race . This is an pinion which can only be and offered by a small minority , cannot be seriously maintained by any one who saw this race . It is also an Opinion which would so gravely reflect on both Maher and Cannon (and Maher indeed was

Cu not concerned with the Gold p race) that , if true , it would , one should imagine , preclude their employment in the future by the same owners . M C . Yet M . annon rides Zinfandel and D aher rides

Pretty Polly to Victory a fortnight after the race . The writer is not in any sense a professional racing

diffidence man , and offers his opinion with some , but gives it for what it may be worth .

Every one knows that a journey across the sea , and to a foreign country, seriously handicaps any horse

- -Old (and especially a three year filly) undertaking it . Add to this a course which is exceedingly holding and (from a weight for age point of view) a very in

Of equitable ratio weights , for, as I have pointed out i n r the p evious chapter, the race is not exactly similar to our weight for age contests , but is a weight for age w race with penalties and allo ances , and is more akin to a handicap . POll I n England , at weight for age , Pretty y would

’

8 . 2 . I I s b 8 st . l. have carried st lb to Presto 5 , but here 1 she gives him 3 lb . (including sex allowance) "

"

I n this race , handicapped as she was by weight , by

2 4 PRETTY POLLY

1 z 1b difference in his favour of . by Hebron , one of the

horses who finished behind him on this day .

As I have before had occasion to remark , these were

not the days of the now happy entente cordiale . The comments on the race in the French Press were

equivocal and , in one case bitterly sarcastic .

M . Gaston Dreyfus , said one publication ,

like a man who unexpectedly lands a big stake , while Major Loder is like a gambler who has risked and lost all m' of his winnings o one throw the dice , and Pretty Polly has lost all the moral gain of her fifteen suc

c essiv e Victories .

In one case , however, I can quote a happy difference

O of pinion .

' All honour to the talented w riter over the signature M George Frederick in the Echo de Paris of onday , loth October . in I make . no apology for quoting his comments

i eh ex so.

For true sportsmen , he declares , Pretty Polly

has lost not one ounce of her value . The English filly

O remains invincible . She beats her chief pponent , Zin M fandel , and acdonald I I retains the place assigned to him by general opinion at the head of the French horses .

— All are in their places except the winner . The victory of Presto is like a cracker which explodes with out leaving any trace behind .

TH E REVERS E AT LONGC HAMP 2 5

The past has proved it , and the future will prove

h as And the future proved it , and proved it up to the hilt . For Macdonald I I won this race the following year

1 0 . 1 in a common canter with the welter weight of st lb . up . And how Pretty Polly and Zinfandel have proved it is known to all .

Hardly had a fortnight elapsed when , on the classic C heath of Newmarket , Zinfandel , in the Jockey lub

C u p, and Pretty Polly , in the Free Handicap , demon strated that they had shaken Off the effects of sea and climate , for in these two races each won in the very commonest of canters . I n the latter race Pretty Polly receded in the betting

’ ’ in an extraordinary manner from 8 s and 1 0 s laid by

O 2 backers to ffers by the Ring to take 7 to , owing to some fancied disinclination on her part to go to the post .

But there was no disinclination , fancied or otherwise , on the return journey Across the Flat , for Pretty Polly jumped off on the lower ground , and holding the lead throughout won , with her ears pricked , in a canter from M Rydal Head and H is ajesty , St . Amant , the Derby winner, being amongst the unplaced .

- French visitors , who had seen these two horses easily 2 6 PRETTY POLLY

few beaten in Paris a days before , marvelled , as well they might , and the beaming smiles which are so seldom revealed on a winning jockey’ s face were reflected in the faces of the bystanders as Danny Maher rode into the

Birdcage to weigh in . L The clouds of ongchamp were broken , to be finally dissipated at Epsom for the future "triumphs of New market .

2 8 PRETTY POLLY

View , for it was possible soon after the numbers had 6 gone up to lay as little as to 4 on Pretty Polly .

These odds , however, were very materially increased

2 and at the start became 9 to 4 on Pretty Polly, 7 to

1 2 C against Zinfandel , an d 3 to against aius . The favourite was ridden for the first time by M M C adden , . annon being up on Zinfandel , and Stern on Caius . The latter jockey had evidently orders to emulate

’ u d u C M Ra sch s tactics in the Prix onseil unicipal , for he brought the others along at a tremendous rate which forcibly reminded one of the French race .

The race was , in fact , run from end to end at a terrific pace , and if there was a soft spot in Pretty Polly a better method could not have been devised Of testing her stamina .

Tattenham C Round orner they sweep , but the pace C - has told on aius , and he has well nigh shot his gallant bolt . Madden has until now been riding a waiting race on the favourite , but now he lets her have her bridle . U p to Zinfandel she sweeps , with that easy and yet terrific stride we know so well . The son of Persimmon struggles gamely to hold his own , but he has not a Sceptre or a Rock Sand in the

- Coronation C up to beat to day . The remainder of the race may well be summed up in

TH E CORONATION CU P — AND AFTE R 2 9 the words of the representative of our leading Turf journal

Pretty Polly swept up to Zinfandel in her old , irresistible style ; he could not hold her for a single stride . I n fact , she made common hacks of two of the best horses at present in training , and I do not think I

' am exaggerating in w riting that I have never seen such " a filly in all my experience of the Turf.

Thenceforward the race was a procession , and Pretty

Polly won in a canter by three lengths , with five lengths separating second and third . I n the Derby the previous day C icero had beaten all records for the race by completing the course in

2 mins . 39% secs . On the Friday Cherry Lass beat this record in the

1 Oaks by % secs . But Pretty Polly signali z ed her Epsom Coronation

2 by traversing the selfsame course in mins . 33 n secs . , 5% secs . faster tha the winner of the Derby, and in 4% secs . shorter time than the first in the Oaks " Of al l her many performances this race at Epsom

stands out in bold relief, and if she were to be judged for her place in the roll of honour by one race alone this

is the one which , taken alone and by itself, stamps her

as a really great horse . And the form as compared with the Paris form be 30 PRETTY POLLY tween Zinfandel and Pretty Polly shows incontestably how untrue that form was . It now appeared merely a question of health for her to succeed in adding the jewels to her Epsom crown , and to set the final seal to her undying fame

l C u by winning the Ascot Go d p, and so it may well indeed have been , but her chance of Victory in the greatest long-distance weight for age contest in the world was unavoidably deferred . For a few days after her sensational success in the Coronation Cup the racing world was electrified by the news that she had met with an accident at exercise , and for six weeks or more her name was absent from the training reports . That she would easily have appropriated the Gol d Cu p on this occasion can scarcely be doubted , as Zin fandel , whom she so crushingly defeated at Epsom , won in a canter from Maximum I I and Throwaway in record time . The accident which had so unfortunately befallen Pretty Polly was a severe strain to the muscles of her quarters , and is believed to have originated when pull ing up after an exercise gallop .

It was , at first , believed that the strain was of a very serious nature , and certain papers published very pes s imistic reports as to her condition , and freely opined that she had run her last race . TH E CORONATI ON C U P — AND AFTE R 3 1

The long rest and the unremitting attention Of her clever veterinary attendant resulted in a complete cure , and her trainer was able to prepare her for her later autumn engagements .

I n the meantime her own sister, Adula, won the at Park H ill Stakes Doncaster, and brought to mind Pretty Polly’ s victory in that selfsame race twelve months previously . Pretty Polly made her reappearance in the Champion M Stakes at the Second October eeting , in which race

O C her sole pponent was the dual ambridgeshire winner ,

’ Hackler s Pride , who had lately become the property of

Sir Tatton Sykes , whose colours , orange with purple sleeves , are but seldom seen on a racecourse nowadays .

t . . M She was ridden by her usual pilo , B Dillon , D aher being up on Pretty Polly . The bookmakers were content for once to trade at a

’ ’ fairly liberal price , because , although Hackler s Pride s best distance was seven furlongs , and a mile about as

’ far as she would care to go , yet it was Pretty Polly s first appearance on a racecourse since the Coronation

C u p in June , and there was a possibility that she might l have ost her brilliant form .

Also , the race was practically a match , and one can never tell what may happen in a match . So it was possible at the close to lay as little as 5 to 2 on the favourite . 32 PRETTY POLLY Hackler’ s Pride made the running at a strong pace and for eight furlongs retained the lead , but at the

re Bushes Pretty Polly shot to the front and , making the maind er of the running , won as she liked by two lengths . Next day saw another triumph for the yellow and C dark blue sleeves , for Hammerkop won the esarewitch n ' from Merry Andrew and seve teen others . It is a curious coincidence that on two occasions i n two years in succession Hammerkop won on one day

e . and Pr tty Polly the next , or vice versa For Hammerkop won the Great Yorkshire Handicap the day before her stable companion was successful in the St . Leger, and now on the day following Pretty Polly’ s victory in the C hampion Stakes Hammerkop

- wins the great long distance handicap . A fortnight later Pretty Polly cantered home from a M solitary opponent , ondamin , in the Limekiln Stakes ,

55 1 on . starting at the phenomenal odds of to _ Her last appearance for the season took place in the

C C u Jockey lub p of two and a quarter miles , run on the Thursday of the Houghton week .

Hammerkop had been also entered , but Pretty Polly “ M ’ proved ajor Loder s selected for the race , her

’ O b s pponents eing Bachelor Button , the French filly

Nimay, who had run very respectably in the St . Leger , in and Horn Head , who was evidently to make the

’ running for Bachelor s Button .

THE CORONATION C U P — A ND AFTE R 33

Clarehaven Bernard Dillon , the present jockey for the m M Lodge stable , had the ount on Pretty Polly , aher r ’ iding Bachelor s Button , and Bartholomew being up Nima on y . ‘ ’ lh Bachelor s Button was set to give the favourite 7 . , but to counterbalance this great advantage in her favour was the fact that she had not been specially trained with a view to this race and had never run previously in public over a greater distance than a mile and three quarters . It is curious to note the doubts that have always existed in certain quarters with regard to Pretty Polly’ s stamina (although I suppose a victory in the Gold Cup a would have dissipated these doubts for ever), as p

’ parently in some people s imagination a horse that has tremendous speed can never stay . I am quite ready to agree that thismay sometimes be the case , but it must always be remembered that Pretty

Polly is a phenomenon and outside the law of averages , and she has shown her ability to win over any distance from five furlongs to two miles and a quarter . Both Bachelor’ s Button and Pretty Polly looked quite at their best , and the former was as fit as hands could make him .

I n the betting Pretty Polly was favourite , five “ " ponies being offered and taken bar one .

O : 1 At Dthe start the dds were 5 to on Pretty Polly, 34 PRETTY POLLY

’ 1 1 Nima 5 to against Bachelor s Button , 33 to y, and

1 00 to I Horn Head (offered). The latter fulfilled his office as pacemaker till half way across the flat , when he dropped back last , and

’ Bachelor s Button , in the centre , went on from Pretty

Polly, on the left , and Nimay, on the right , to the dip , where Pretty Polly drew to the front and won , hard held , by half a length ; a bad third .

And so Pretty Polly won her twentieth victory .

C HAPTE R V

TH E LA ST CO RO N AT I O N O F P R E TTY PO L LY

RETTY POLLY made her reappearance in the March Stakes at Newmarket run on the day succeeding the decision of the Two Thousan d

Guineas .

She was accompanied in the paddock by another cob , M her old friend , Little issus , having, so it was said , succumbed to rheumatism . The mare looked exceedingly well and was as forward in condition as the occasion required .

O The field to ppose her was of but small dimensions , and the fact that there were seventy-five sovereigns for

- - the runner up may have prevented a walk over . M Besides ondamin , second to the mare in the Lime M kiln Stakes at the previous Houghton eeting , were

- W u lfram two good class handicap horses in St . and M H is ajesty, but at weight for age they were obviously outclassed .

n O There was practically no betti g, the nominal dds

1 000 e of 35 to being asked for , and the tempting off r 35 36 PRETTY POLLY of one bookmaker to bet 1 000 to 35 that Pretty Polly was not second remained unheeded .

The race needs little description . M ondamin , on the left , made the running from M Pretty Polly , in the centre , and H is ajesty to the

Bushes , where Pretty Polly was allowed to stride to the front , and making the remainder of the running ,

M i M attended by ondam n and H is ajesty , she won in a canter by two lengths , four lengths separating second and third .

I t was a race of no great importance seemingly, but although none could have foreseen it , it was the last time that Pretty Polly was to run at Newmarket . For the very last time she re— entered the Birdcage amid the admiring comments of the bystanders , and as she passed out of the gate at the further end there passed out of the active history of Newmarket Racecourse the mare of all the centuries , who had always run to win , and whose two defeats , accomplished as they were

“ when she was not herself, show forth , by the gallant way in which she struggled on against hopeless odds , that in her failures she was perhaps even more gloriously triumphant than in all her victories . Pretty Polly’ s next engagement was in the Corona

C u tion p at Epsom , a race to be ever memorable by reason of what was perhaps her greatest V ictory in that selfsame event twelve months before .

LAST CORONATI ON OF PRETTY POLLY 37 The day previously her owner had won the Derby C with Spearmint , a son of arbine , a colt who had been bought as a yearling by Major Loder at the annual sale of the Sledmere youngsters at Doncaster .

I t was a lucky purchase , as the colt not only won the Derby , but also , although only after a hard struggle,

the Grand Prix . . Many sensational stories were afloat preceding the Derby as to a wonderful trial in which the son of Carbine was supposed to have defeated Pretty Polly

1 lb at 9 . t The rial was altogether mythical , as the two had never been tried , and good honest colt as Spearmint was he was no better than the best of a moderate lot , and had Maintenon given his best running at Long champ it is very questionable whether the Grand Prix woul d not have remained at home . It had been confidently expected that Cicero would have had a cut at the great mare in the C oronation

Cu p, but owing to the hard ground it was decided to

Old reserve him for Ascot , and besides her friend

St . Amant , whose sensational Victory in the Jockey

' Clu b S takes had resuscitated him , there was only the

- - rec om three year ol d Achilles , who had some form to a mend him (as well as very big pull in the weights), as he had won the C hampagne Stakes at the previous

Doncaster September Meeting . 38 PRETTY POLLY Pretty Polly was in grand condition and exceptionally

fit and well in herself. O The Ring , after asking in vain for extravagant dds ,

1 1 2 were content to take to , this price being booked 1 against St . Amant , while 33 to was offered against

Achilles . For about a quarter of a mile Pretty Polly held a slight lead of Achilles , when St . Amant took second place . till So they ran about six furlongs from home , when

St . Amant dropped back and Achilles raced up along side the leader . I t was worth witnessing , the gallantly determined but absolutely ineffectual way in which the three-year

O old tried to get on terms with his great pponent , but the momentary effort made no impression on the favour ite , who , gradually drawing away , won as she liked by a length and a half, in the same time as the Derby

1» 2 . 6 . record of her stable companion , mins 3 5 secs Doubtless had she been needed to do so she would

2 . have broken her own record of the previous year, mins

333? secs . , which remains , and will probably for all time remain , the record time in which the mile and a half, which constitutes the course over which the “ Derby is run , has been covered . On returning to scale Pretty Polly was received with an outburst of cheering , and few who witnessed that

LAST CORONATION O F PRETTY POLLY 39

day could have imagined that it was her last coronation , the last time that she should be acclaimed the actual victor .

I n the light of after events , it may be that the owner of Pretty Polly thinks that the gods exacted too

’ heavy a price for Spearmint s Derby and Grand Prix . So must the world have enthused over the good

destruc fortune of Polycrates of Samos , even when his tion was impending . C H A PT E R V I

THE TRAGEDY OF ASCOT

H E Ascot Gold Cup is run over two miles and

a half, with a trying ascent at the finish , and

owing probably , to its being a severe test of

’ a horse s stamina and endurance , as well as to the fact that its competitors are supposed to be exclusively drawn from the ranks of animals of the highest class

’ only, it is popularly held to set the seal on its Victor s fame . Certainly some great horses have won this race in c C re ent years , Isinglass and yllene to wit whilst some inferior animals have also won , to instance only Throw away and Maximum I I whilst several horses of

— undoubted pre eminent ability , such as Sceptre and

Zinfandel (the latter at the first attempt), have failed so , on the whole , it can scarcely be said that a victory or

C u a defeat in the Gold p is , by itself, a guarantee of immortal fame or otherwise .

Cu 1 06 The entry for the Ascot Gold p, 9 , was a very

Cu flattering one , although like many p contests its pro portions were destined to be considerably lessened .

TH E TRAGEDY O F ASCOT 4 1

Among those entered were , besides the subject of this sketch , Presto I I , the only horse who had hitherto C finished in front of her ; lyde , a famous French mare ; C C icero , a winner of the Derby ; hallacombe , a winner of the St . Leger ; St . Denis , a winner of the Princess W ’ of ales s Stakes ; Great Scot , a winner of the

’ ’ Cu Viceroy s p ; and Bachelor s Button , who may very fairly be described as the best handicap horse then in training , and who had recently shown himself to be in form by winning the Manchester C u p.

The French horses eventually decl ined the contest ,

five— which ultimately was confined to Pretty Polly ,

C . icero , Achilles , St Denis (who was started to make

’ the running for his stable companion), and Bachelor s

Button . The Ascot Meeting had Opened very brilliantly as far as the weather was concerned , as it was excessively

C u hot all four days , and the course by p Day was as hard as a turnpike road . Nature does not seem to have intended the Royal

Heath for a racecourse , as the going generally appears to be either exceedingly hard or exceedingly holding according to the prevalent weather conditions .

Cu Of all the four days , p Day was perhaps quite the hottest and the most sweltering . On arrival at the course there were certain rumours

' about as to Pretty Polly, and there was some idea in the 42 PRETTY POLLY Ring before racing that the mare had been sent back to

mar New ket . I t had transpired that she had been caused some in a convenience by certain prominent wart on her belly, which had been lanced by her veterinary attendant , and it was thought by some people that this was more serious than really was the case .

As a matter of strict fact , the writer of these pages has the very highest and best authority— that of Major

— Loder for stating that , although it was quite true that she had been troubled by a large wart under her belly, there was nothing to indicate in the way she was doing in the stable or at her work that she was the least Off colour . Although , looking back at the race , one can hardly doubt that she was not at her very best on that day , still , when one considers what a great race she ran

‘ all the same , it is difficult to see how any one could have judged that she was not quite in her top form .

Only the race itself could settle that question . I have consi dered it only right to lay some stress on the above point , as there were many people who unfairly, if

’ unconsciously, blamed Pretty Polly s connections for running her on the assumption that they ran her know ing she was off colour .

That this is an entire fallacy I have , on the highest and best authority, proved . After Queen ’ s Holiday had walked over for the All O B . D I LL N

O . M A DDE N I) . M A HE R

' RC L L GI P I N M R . PE TE R I U H L

TRI C C HA LS E Y C.

\V . L A NE

’ P R ETTY PO L L Y S TRA I NE R A N D JOC KE YS ’ - lar e m a ' llwlo. C e H flg

THE TRAGEDY OF ASCOT 43

Aged Stakes , there was a long delay before the time set

Cu for the p to be run . Pretty Polly was early on view walking round the paddock , preceded by Hammerkop . a , She was certainly sweating _ good deal but consider ing the tropical heat this is hardly to be wondered at . C icero was also walking about , and this handsome little son of Cyllene certainly never looked better in his life . The writer was standing outside Pretty Polly’ s box while she was being saddled , and if any collateral evidence were necessary to support the assertionthat the mare carried the full confidence of those associated with her , this evidence was forthcoming in the hearty laughter of her trainer while her toilet was being attended to , and one left the paddock with the firm conviction that she would win her race pulling up .

I n the betting there was little , if any , indication that the Ring had forecasted the result , because although there was plenty of fielding against the favourite , she was a

1 1 1 hard odds on chance at to 4 , 7 to being freely “ offered bar one .

1 oh 1 I to 4 , 7 to bar one does not usually presage a disaster , especially when one considers how excessively liberal the odds against the second favourites were . At the close the prices were : 1 1 to 4 on Pretty

’ 1 C Polly , 7 to against icero and Bachelor s Button (this 44 PRETTY POLLY proves that the 1 905 Derby winner was consi dered to have as good or rather as forlorn a chance as the Jockey

C C u 0 1 00 lub p second), 4 to against Achilles , and 5 to

1 against St . Denis (offered) . The latter led the parade from Bachelor’ s Button and

C . icero , with Pretty Polly last A capital start was effected eight minutes after the scheduled time , St . Denis , in the centre , at once setting C the pace to icero , on the left , and Pretty Polly, on the

’ right , with Bachelor s Button next , to the stands . C Here icero , who was fighting hard for his head , was

’ deprived of second place by Achilles , Bachelor s Button dropping into the rear .

The jockey on St . Denis had evidently been ord ered

instruc to make the pace a hot one , and he fulfilled his tions to the letter . Turning out of the straight C icero resumed second place with Achilles next , and Pretty Polly d ropped back last .

n S winle Alo g the y Bottom the pace became a cracker , and one instinctively knew that if Pretty Polly won it would be in record time .

St . Denis retained the lead till six furlongs from h im home , when the terrific pace told on an d he dropped back last , an d Achilles came on clear with the other three almost in a line . W hen fairly in the straight Pretty Polly drew up to

46 PRETTY POLLY

I t was Paris all over again .

- As then , so now, one glanced at the winning post and at the two horses as they neared it , and hoped against hope that Pretty Polly might have that momen tary return of vitality which would land her a victor, W even if it ere only by the shortest of margins .

But as it was at Longchamp , so it was at Ascot , and the horse holding his own to the end won by a length s amid a ilence as of death .

I have seen many races and many sensational results , but nothing to equal the absolute silence as Bachelor ’ s Button passed the post the winner of the Ascot Gold

u C p in record time .

r e To f eely translat a Latin epigram , it might be said that , although the gods had decreed the success of the victor, the success of Pretty Polly was desired by every man of that great Ascot multitude , layer and backer alike , such a hold had she on every unit of that great

Of army those who go racing .

I believe it is said that some people cried , and I am not the least ashamed to own that the tears came into my own eyes as I saw for the secon d time Pretty Polly’ s number second in the frame . No one cared about the money ; one would have gladly given the money twice over rather than have seen her defeated .

To the reader totally uninterested in racing , or to one

TH E TRAGEDY OF ASCOT 47 who perhaps looks upon racing as a synonym for all that is evil , it may seem curious that the success or

Of failure a certain horse , taken absolutely apart from

financial circumstances , should raise any feeling of emotion . But to those thousands who have seen Pretty Polly in any or all of her races the feeling of sadness that the once deferred Triumph of Ascot had become a

Tragedy instead was as natural as it was general .

N O one could see Pretty Polly and not love her . But Pretty Polly stood for something more than her own beautiful gentle self.

She stood for all that is best , all that is truest , all that is least venial in the world of racing . W hilst there are horses like Pretty Polly (although far removed though they be from her phenomenal superexcellence), owners like Eustace Loder , trainers like Peter Purcell Gilpin , an d jockeys as straight as

Bernard Dillon , no man need despair of the Turf of

England .

C u Turning back to the Ascot p, there can be but little doubt that she was distinctly unlucky in the race , and that she was latently a little below her top form , and that these causes were the reason of her d efeat . Bachelor’ s Button was a handicap horse of the

he highest class , but had no pretensions to classic form , 48 PRETTY POLLY and he had been beaten fairly and squarely at New market by the mare , despite all the assertions of those who stated that she won all out on that occasion . I f Bachelor’ s Button was such a great horse then M ark Time would have beaten Pretty Polly, for the former only managed to defeat Mark Time at even weights by a short head at Doncaster .

To say that Pretty Polly failed to stay is absurd .

It was want of Vitality, not want of stamina, that lost her the Cu p. As has before been remarked in these pages with reference to the only other defeat the wonderful mare has suffered throughout her career, so it might be said again with reference to Ascot that in defeat she was ,

V perhaps , more glorious than in ictory .

No want of commendation for the winner , good ,

res ec honest horse that he was , but knowledge of the p tive class an d merits of the pair, as judged by the career of each , prompts any one who is an impartial j udge to hold conclusively that had Pretty Polly been absolutely at the top of her form on that tragic day she

consu m would inevitably have won , and won , too , with mate ease .

Pretty Polly was no worse for her severe race , and was confidently expected to appear again under colours

Cu in the Doncaster p. U nfortunately , owing to the hard ground , she jarred MAJOR E U STAC E L O DE R ar nc i P h oto. Cl e e Haley

50 PRETTY POLLY

e I t is , as has before be n remarked , the absolutely effortless way in which her races have been won that

— denotes her pre eminent ability . Her victory over Zinfandel at Epsom stands Out as e a wonderful performanc for all time . For Zinfandel was undoubtedly a good , and indeed a great , horse . And so with the Tragedy of Ascot, a tragedy that is not perhaps yet wholly devoid of its triumph , in the great race that she ran , and the gallant fight that she

“ made when the odds were all against her, Pretty Polly leaves for ever the racecourse for the paddock , but she leaves a void in the life of the Turf which is never l ikely to be adequately filled . I t may be hoped that some Of her stock will uphold the honour of the yellow and dark blue as worthily as she has done , and that in them may be some at least of the characteristics of the great mare whose blood runs in their veins , and whose deeds will never be forgotten , for as long as the world endures the glorious daughter of Gallinule and Admiration will always be remembered with pride and gladness , not only by those

m e who have had the privilege of acclai ing her victori s , but by future generations , who will have handed down to them as an everlasting tradition the name which embraces the most brilliant era in the annals of the

— English Turf, that of Pretty Polly .

APPE NDI " B

CO MP L ET E R E CO R D O F P R ETTY PO L LY ’ S RAC E S

S DOW R NE 1 0 AN N PA K (JU , 9 3)

B ri is Do inion Two Yea d Rac u r s t m l e. h r O 5f .

Pretty Polly T r igg n V ergia H . J o es 2 ’ hn0 au nt Mr urs J o G . Th by nn Castello K . Ca on Kava Compton Jac k Haw thorn Madden ainte Mar u is an S q e W . L e

e r e rt incent Mart n H b V J . i Lanfin M n e . Canon

A rmoea Mah er

. ' ettin : 2 to 1 oh n0 aunt ac awthorn Lanfine B g J G , 3% J k H , 4 , V ia r 6 re tt o 1 0 er and oth e s . P y P lly, g W t n n h on e l e gt s anec k. ’ RECORD OF PRETTY POLLY S RAC ES 55

S DOW R L 1 0 AN N PA K (JU Y, 9 3)

’ N ationalB reeders P r od uce S taes u rs k . 5 f .

Pretty Polly Halse y Bob rins ki Lyne a Marsden W . L ne Warrior Madd en n an n Pe rc hat M. C no

n tar Mart n Flyi g S J . i r m ann n Me ry an K . C o Glor iana Watts Royal A rch H iggs ate n e o xon K A g l T . Di Ravenshoe Hardy

ett n : 2 to 1 rett o ai n tar arr or B i g P y P lly, Flyi g S , 35 W i , 1 00 to 8 Mars en 1 00 to Bobr inski and erc hant 1 6 o a d , 7 P , R y l

rch 2 0 ot ers . A , h n w t th s Wo by t o l eng hs three l eng .

L V R OOL L 1 0 I E P (JU Y, 9 3)

le s u ds / rs. 1 1 0 . M er rey S tae . 5 f y

Pretty Polly Halsey

re Le C . by G y g Navaretta Madd en

ttin t I n r t B e g : 33 o o P e ty Polly .

s i a n h an aha Wonealy l e gt d lf. 56 PRETTY POLLY

’ ‘ D A I ER S E TEMBER 1 0 ONC S ( P , 9 3)

ds taes. urs 1 2 . Champagne S k 5 f . 5 y

— ane Pretty Polly 8 1 1 W . L Lanc ashire 9 — 0 Lyne

— annon mant 0 . C S t. A 9 K

— Mart in Hand s Down 9 0 J . Cinq uefoil 9 — 0 Mah er

mant 8 C n u e ettin : 1 1 to 1 0 rett o 6 to S t . B g P y P lly , 4 A , i q

o ancas re and an s own. f il , 33 L hi H d D m 1 in. Won in acanter alength and ahalf ; two l e ngth s . 1 1 1 3 secs .

M C ST R S E TEMBER 1 0 AN HE E ( P , 9 3)

’ nB reeders FoalP late A utum .

P retty Polly 9 5 Don Paez 8— 9

in : 2 1 n r B ett g 5 to o P etty Polly. n ant r t r ar f n Wo c e h ee p ts o al e gth.

WM R T SECOND OCTOBER MEET N G 1 0 NE A KE ( I , 9 3)

evele P ar taes Ch y k S k . an P retty Polly W . L e V ergia Madde n Flam ma Mah er

Ma . Martin ry B elle J Queen B eau ty Croft m A lin Po egranate H . y T ripping Lyne

ett n : 1 00 to 8 on re tt o 1 00 to 8 aanst Flamma B i g P y P lly , g i , V r iaand oth r 50 e g e s . n n Wo ac ater th ree parts of alength two length s .

' RECORD OF PRETTY POLLY S RAC ES 57

ar k P late 6 u r s. M iddle P . f

— 0 ane P retty Polly 9 W . L

— annon mant . C S t. A 9 3 K

n s w — 0 Mart n Had D o n 9 J . i Lanc ashire 9 — 3 Lyne

— 1 M Cannon And ria 8 0 . — li Leu cadia 9 0 H . Ay n

— ones Pe rfec t Love 8 7 H . J

man 8 Lan ett n : 2 to I on ett o to 1 S t . t B i g Pr y P lly, 45 A ,

cashire 20 ot ers . , h

1 min. 1 secs . Woneasily three lengths ; length. 7

WM R T O TO M T OCTOBER 1 0 NE A KE H UGH N EE ING ( , 9 3)

i er ion tas u r s r t e 6 . C S k . f

P retty Polly Hands D own

in 1 r B ett g : 00 to 7 on P etty Polly . W n n a a o al e gth nd half.

n aes u rs Moulto S t k . 5 f .

— ane 9 1 W . L

— Cannon 8 7 M. 8— 3 Madden

- Martin 8 7 J .

ettin : 1 00 to on rett o 2 oth ers . B g 7 P y P lly , 5 Wonac ant r tw n ur n e o le gths fo l e gths. 5 8 PRETTY POLLY

M R T F RST S R M T R L 1 0 NEW A KE I P ING EE ING (AP I , 9 4)

The n O e T ousand u ina tahe R M 1 mile . G e s S s . h . ( )

rett o ane P y P lly W . L

eu caia A lin 2 L d H . y Flamma Mae r . D . h 3 ar ette an a 0 B b H . R d ll ianc ée atts 0 F J . W tc ar Ma en o Al 0 . dd ar ones 0 Pi i H . J

ett n : to 1 on rett o 6 to 1 aanst Fiancee B i g 4 P y P lly , g i , ucaa ar e ette 1 00 to 1 an oth er . 33 L di , B b , y c an n ter t ree e t s u h me : 1 min. 0 secs. A h l g h ; fo r l engt s . Ti 4

A rec or d for th e rac e.

SOM S MM R M T NE 1 0 EP U E EE ING (JU , 9 4)

Th e as ta ils A bout 1 m e . O k S kes . 5

ane 1 W . L annon 2 K . C atts J . E . W 3 ase o W . H l y

ettin : 1 00 to 8 on rett o 1 00 to aanst Fiancee B g P y P lly, 7 g i , i t r 2 t e s 1 S t . Mindr d 0 00 to 1 e . B ,

Won acanter th r n t ba r me : 2 m ns. ee l e g hs ; d thi d . Ti i 6 sec s 4 5 .

60 PRETTY POLLY

ak ill P r H S taes. S t Le er k . g

e tin : 2 to 1 on Prett o to 1 aanst oth r t e s. B g 5 I y; P lly , 33 g i W n c ant r th r il th bad h r min 81 o a e ee en s t . s. s c g i d 3 ; e s.

R S T M M T OCTOBER 1 0 PA I AU U N EE ING ( , 9 4)

P r ix du onseilM unici al 1 i e IC p . 3 m ls.

Presto I I P retty Polly Z infandel Mac donald I I H ebron F risq u et Rataplan Lorlot

B — Th e Par Mutue e n th e ofic ame u m ofs ec u a . . l b i g f i l di p l tion th e so-cae ett n as ve n in th e n s aers is , ll d b i g gi E gli h p p u nr ia Th e ar Mutue r tu rn th ric e f th w nn r el ble. P i l e ed e p o e i e at au t 66 1 F or aces th e ari Mutue a 2 t bo to . pl P l p id o 5

' rett and 1 2 Z inan P y Polly to f del .

s a Wonby two§and ahalf l engths ; half length. ’ RECORD OF PRETTY POLLY S RACES 6 1

WMAR T O TO M T OCTOBER NE KE H UGH N EE ING ( ,

h F ee Handica T e r . 1 mile 2 u r s p f .

P retty Polly 9 - 7 Mah er

— an n Rydal H ead 8 5 M. C no 2 His Maj esty 7- 1 I Madden 3

mant — annon t. C S A 9 4 K . o

ettin : to 2 on rett o 1 00 to 1 2 aainst a B g 7 P y P lly, g Ryd l man 2 Hi Maest ea 1 0 S t. t 0 s . H d , A , j y

Wonac anter twol ength s ahead .

SOM S MM R M T MAY 1 0 EP U E EE ING ( , 9 5)

Th e r nat on u 1 mil Co o i C p. } es.

9— 0 Madden 1 - ann n 2 9 6 M. C o 9— 6 S tern 3

ett n : to on rett o to 2 aanst Z nan e B i g 9 4 P y P lly, 7 g i i f d l , 2 ius 1 3 to Ca . Won in acant r th ree en th s five n ths ime e by l g ; le g . T :

s ec s. 2 mins . 335 s is th e rec or time for th e er c ourse and eats the Thi d D by , b h r ous da 2 m n re v ous rec or Cic ero inth e er t e e s. p i d ( D by p vi y, i ’ and the o owin as as r ec or C err ass sec s . ) f ll g d y O k d ( h y L , ’ mins 8 I t aso eats earm nt s th e rese nt 2 . 3 l b Sp i ( p ) ns 6 c rec or for th e er 2 m . se s. d D by, i 3 %

NEWMAR KET S ECOND OCTOBER MEETING ( 1 905)

Th e am ion taes A F mil u r C S . . . 1 e 2 s h p k f .

r 8— Mar P etty Polly 1 1 D . he ’ c r r 8— 1 i n Hakle s P id e 1 B . D llo

ett n : to 2 on rett o B i g 5 P y P lly. Woninac ommonc an r w n t s 2 mins 1 s s te t o e h . . ec . by l g 7 5 62 PRETTY POLLY

M R T O TO M T OCTOBER 1 0 NEW A KE H UGH N EE ING ( , 9 5) i iln e aes A . il L m S t . F . 1 m e 2 u rs k k f .

rett o on 1 P y P lly B . Dill Mon am n Ma en 2 d i 0 . dd

B etting : 55 to I onP retty Polly. i a n th WOneas ly by l e g .

/ lu u i u r s h e s 2 . T e j ock y C b C p. 2 m le f

— n Pr etty Polly 8 9 B . Dillo ’ Bachelor s B utton 9 — 2 Mah er 2 N imay 7 — 9 Bar tholomew 3 H orn H ead 7 — 1 2 Madd en o

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ett n : to 1 . on r ett o to 1 aanst ac e or s B i g 5 P y P lly , 5 g i B h l a u tton ima 1 00 orn e . B , 33 N y , H H d

an t bad th r m n . I secs. Won ar e a e . s , h d h ld, by h lf l g h i d 4 i §

WM R T F RST S R M T MAY 1 0 6 NE A KE I P ING EE ING ( , 9 )

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M ar c taes. A . F mile 2 u rs h 1 . T e h S k . f

— i on 1 P retty Polly 9 7 B . D ll

— i s 2 Mondamin 8 4 W . H gg

— Maer His Maj esty 9 7 D . h 3

lram — an a W u f . o S t. 9 4 H R d ll

n 1 00 to on r B etti g : 0 35 P etty Polly . n r n th s Woninac ate by two lengths fou r l e g .

SOM S MM R M ET N MAY 1 06 EP U E E I G ( , 9 )

h e or onation u 1 1 miles T C C p . } .

t — on 1 P re ty Polly 9 3 B . Dill c es 8— an a 2 A hill 0 H . R d ll

— ann n S t mant . C o . A 9 6 K 3

‘ mant ettin : to 2 on Prett o 1 1 to 2 aainst S t . B g I I P lly , g A , a y 33 to 1 ag inst A c hill es (offered) . s Woninac anter by al ength and ahalf two l ength .

B o win th e ' utt n s ' a fl t h B WA RRE le st re ected by y N HI LL ( W illie Tli is wns P h retty ar an e u b lu ' p e c in p Y re e e e in lat week s f r nc s e r not h was at h ’ ' "1 s e e M “h “5 W e " letter to r tt oll mis W h m so m o m 11 P e y P y s Z uc h c an. t h e nly ti e in r ' wm e S e oo s o m D( d vent ure— no o h f h R e ms h t k uc h t f er own r id in w t e ‘ were g inne low a( O l “ h er regul r ault— w c h a o I afl ahes te r I w s t u t in n o M lss le on t o f hi h gh , “ h day th e . h 282f m ) t se s t e ‘ ° y s lo nt o om m a c a r . t h e t ale t o ave lo t h er th e C i and t h e preli in ry s b , h s lerk 88 fili§§ S h e nev er t h e es sc ot C u an o e aj o an i p , d t th E om d ining . d - A p s ach O on ao r a re ed y one dds f v urite ent nce . and ASc oc c ourses as bem ‘ y m ay o ] “ g A S I ver n ne n - a t o a t a I n s m a h ppened D ss Ou t t 1 a WlII h a t h e o e e ee h ae r ce s re r pp y d gr , v st nd in t h e aag }; m d e t h e 131 3335 h a h was amo: a t t s e ‘ ou t me e u n lette eric n ar a d l A ess r g q g riv ed B a o B u t t O I b h n iri s mo t for h i s c h el rs on P - r unt aiu t e i om w o o h is t o Nor t o tr y one W ~ st ut h rse in c f r h c un but , as le a in8 l al l — ui ne or a at g ns l: h flu k i y g d vict e . t e re d rs t h e en i Y h o C u p . 0 c ean t is Asc t , ad l00 k l Th e one ak n s s s whether su c h an g. aI t h ou o h t of o l not h e . it w u d ' a . as was one to afirs t m a o q al a ccident this , re t e u r nk a. a a o or th e ill— u celebrities we h ve l l ‘ ~ c ss r ceh rse ck _ b ld r e d o glve h im ac 1lee r y Lan t h e corresponding 8 h C o om o S and f ll l . og . c gs niriz w dic om e W h a a e m w ich be e b h un . t gre tly st o h th e D and R o o a w s u .as t h e i i s o of t we x y , S ai st l k of h t ers in erb h d r u ch _ f c er t e rec rd i n O ak s o a a efi fe at h m i l y -fo a the , c uld h ve h ppened in twent ur st r i iii iigigii i t h g rei r t ihd h ad h g w he s t e n g tak p a on ‘ run in en ce , l Mah er got alit t le lat er when n s pac rou c our s es as Y or k and l such s . t u t n ng from t h e winning ride on Do a P ani i t e a wh e n h e row r e . o c nc ster . ' d qp‘aar fi9 ' V f Th e ot h er q u estion is whether t V " 3 t S l oan h ad com e amongst u s P y PON . i n V w Of two rett Y ie her B u t th e c hance m eeting alluded - d e ea was an out ad -out to h as a m e d a f ts , n lways re ain apleas nt ' m m o i ae k soth a o y h t h e . G C u c om " st y r , li e ld p e r wit wr ter I \ a a o t a. h y ao a “s u ms which my c orre snon beg n pp ss ci ti n as to e of a h h l .th h n w ic ’ ted end t e gre t m o s. j o ae in t h e a I t dent e ti n ckey s c r er s ddle . ripened into somet h ing m uc h m ore h a aa aa a S P A C IO U S Y O RK t n c su l c q u intances h ip . S uccess n ever led to M ah er I t 15 “Qt b eeausaI am fl om th e a an I nflate o o f i m. ‘ h d o h ' ' ving p‘ ini n i No h Co aI ol bOth S as n a o rt untry th t h d up elf , w s t h e c se wit h t h ers in m a ands for York and Doncaster as t h e sae wh o c me fr brn o h of a — h h l , cing fairer battle gr ounds t h an t e t er side t e At ntic He m ay a a a aft er h is h ve ppe red , E s om and o in th e p , a t o m to an at. Asc t sense rise f e , be petul t and o a. a ar e th e m cros th t ch nces less ti es , w uld get very s o w h o j . o fiuenc e d } 1 “ wk on two wit h ckeys , h e c nsidered . b “ the ‘ h ad not strictly ob se r ve d r id ing 5 9 5 “1 3 01 k b h “ . He n c . ot a q . w - eti uette did by t h e y , I h a f q nly al t h m o h y m ve re ue t w ked e bserve t is ever ti e . all and c an o fim aaV or' , He i nv r ianl a c n r w h t isit _ a y bided by h is own m a on fi a a a “ h h , q . o o o ig t g t e' r rst c u int nce pini n c ncerning incidents ‘O in n y V om m i om o birds e e iew fr t h ebest e erg ng fr h is w n riding . os it i on a t h at ' ‘ t h e st nds ; t h e alt h oug h t h ey d id not c oi nc id e wit h oa ‘ ‘ - of h I lRC KS on h of o h and h h le br der sweep t e ‘ t e views t ers , w c d ' - To Moo and K li m’ e sm i le nor as i wn r " in one case t o t h e severance of lfis - u m o o oom at. o -ion a t h e r nners re elb w r c nnect wit h leading own er . ' h . t e tu rns Reverting t o m y corresp ondents I n o m ’ t h is respect Y rk y per q uesti on c oncerning Pretty Polly s son l o o x n . ew , N a a h a pini n ne t u wit h st min . suc h ad p eared o en p - p p m a o one . y to b e a rket w h ere t h ere is_ nl turn ch llenged w h en s h e went on of a h eit h er t h e tr cks . w ile , w h en over t o Paris in t h e autum n of a C o o W o wh o - - t h e l te l nel ilkins n . h h y aold ay and was ' er t ree e r d s at aj o D I ing ou s e s was l ived d ining h , a P r e s to ll wh owas be ten by . in a t h e a o o h . f . of m m t h e o Z ta in c rge sur ce c nditi ns receipt . lder in n o h a I t was an o (le i fi h c nsidering t t pen nis ing t h ird . o , x ll . c urse were e ce ent ‘ ’ ‘ L M r Ma e w as ? R Y T C K W o h . h G S I N ike rri tt er e E I _ x on m a o h e I ' e pert tters c ncerning b Th e laS L narneas m oderate posi ae g . tion recalled t h at it was in S i ri ll a Na i n of lu r l Per h ps ture . respect sub y h eavy g oing t h at h e h ad j ust o o o was ‘ ‘ l . h l f l . aowly l o h C esme w lt c h h s i c nditi ns e p u n rr “ st t e t e Wit h regard t o Pretty Polly ‘s p revious O ctober t o t h e feat h er am aone o not of o h G y T h h e was st in . w uld . c urse , weig ed re ick w en a ns lb nh - a-ol place t h is on nearly s o hig h a c rryin g t 4 o is t h re e ye r d p l no as t hat at t ained by aw h ole bu ck . ' 1 c an no h i m h aIe r f am o w . t e g y o c l . ' picture in e ebrities ngst ' m i ll s e e $ 5 1 u lh l 1 l om I o y _ gg 11 3 0 b lt “ w h w uld include members fil g 2 . fit - u vai i i n l i n " I of h e r own s e x g , o suc h as LaFlec h e y t h e Abingd n D D , m S m and on d a S c e t fe so m a a . , y p h er best , . w h ic h uc h rese bled w p He was avery g ood and ’ o o a wo al MA HER S O P ] N]O N W uld pr bably h v e n l t h ree la h ay e ar fac of R o O n c ssics t ' t in e ck e of ou r a a o t gre test ut h rities S a b u tor h i e o a nd t s entries b c ming h of o and w h o in t e tr ining pr essi n . ‘ o a L? t h e deat h 0 f C l t o e i h t e ar of ae g y y s g . ill ver _ is st ménfifigfi ' ' ou t W an ' . d h as h ad turning inners Y - e c P y Polly h a o i e O ' rett despite ving f t h b es t 1 1 08 “ at alld i s 1 t h aa lay and b ad o y O VQ l’ sage _ d de ed j urne m gi s lh ar o I e l c s c ge , w uld p x im on t h om C a ah e o a m a. t h e h nnel . be t c n a I f a ‘ wit h e p h tic neg tive sked o e fi S o Ine nt i n d ad o m P i n . n c n r ed t h e y o y was a ar rett P ll genuine st y e . fo m h t h y o o m o h S c r w en e re“ pp sed nt s h o o w as o fim y u pini n c n r ed b afterwar d s i ii t h e C oronation C lll) Produce S tak es in Mersey S tak es at len gths : th e Ch a e nter in ac . with ’ following years only third 3i le ngt Manchest er Au tu Foal S tones in Cheveley Park S tal the Middle Par k a ae Wit gre test e s . len gths behind h ex S tak es by lb 16 a the Moulton S tak e At two years P i burly in appear s doubts wer e cast she would train 0 early prom ise . RECO RD I n th e April of old career sh e appearance in th e aand it G uine s . w she h ad fill ed general imp roveir Th e rac e was S h e mad e hac k s 0 winnin g y thr ee b ‘ then record time Th e reputation cent filly h ad hei ghts that the nd s InCareer cut up bad ly a fillies opposed h e

i . th and . ndeed was to be admix Of An Amaz in F them could maki g o on Pretty P lly , home three lengt ' al a nearest riv . EN m DEFEAT tion from her lm TOOK HONOURS EV h ad turned up in to applaud her v nation S tak es a and a I TH th e A o o trouble her . rctic c nditi ns LOV EA BLE n LY prevailin g throu ghout the u ter by thre e len g o y is l l to o py Th e lly po d u a or c untr . there itt e ccu fi ssesse s ch ende r Th e season m and m of a in a a oc c u ied a' the ti e ind the rdent g q u lities th t she p and P rf wood . a o o of a in th e aflec tions of all r ce g er H wever . the study pl ce , in for h e Tu o ails and now am wa a B o Jak entered t rf hist ry never p , the s e y th t r wn c ; nh a is agood time to recallth e great d id in later years whe re she e f a o ’ r a aa ’ nn ones o the p st . Pretty P lly s fi st ppe r nce tion by wi in g a Lo m I n 1902 Maj or Eust ce der in public gave so e indi cation of len gth s. a G a out of a for won I n S t. Leg bred filly by llinule her future gre tness. she the B ni at th e am Dom o . Y ne m at o and T . o Ad ir i n n ed her Pretty the ritish i n O. Plate that at S ad o ak o Polly . n wn P r with the great her col urs . but - Th e c h ief aa of oi ae a Of 10 u a o ch r cteristics this est e s in field r nners . r ce need nlay foal were particularly good shoul After two furlon gs Pretty Polly Polly won in h a am ar oom and im d aomma la a . ders , ple he t r , such c ndin g e d th t len gths i o S t . 1 mense power beh nd the saddle . the public th ught there h ad be en After the om a a e afa a and a Fr her e rliest d ys Pr tty lse st rt . the further they other gre t filly b a' mar k ed o a a e am ak o o . a P lly re pers n lity went the gre ter b c e her le d . win the P r » a S h e wo ae n ff and oo am a. o t n c ter om r i S Ve . s n bec e _ f v uri e in fr g a where ceptre W Jo ' a for amo o on for 0 G t u . n gst th se resp sible ith hn un third . s cceeded s I won break in g h er in and her early t is true that S ir G eor ge tended and T ' o tim schoolin g. hursby eas ed John 0 G aunt at U p t this of a not a the end the r ce , but until never been be t

ai . met he re l sed th e posi tion was h Op e h ad never and of o less . he was unable to issue a able f rcin g h a to th e S h e h ad bec omi ch llen ge speedy filly . and we" public . - v o o t o e f m ar o p y

R had a terri ble crossing . ain fell torrent s d oin in . an the g g was hoc k d eep Z a l d M d d I I inf nde an ac onal . the French champ ion three-year d d d os ol s . were consi ere her m t d d angerous op ponents . an to a certain extent these calculations r f P were ight . or retty Polly was d Z f d d d Mac secon . in an el thir , an d d I 1 f h b onal ourth . all t ree eing b b 11 n eaten easily y Presto . agai st whom odds o f 66 to 1 were o btain a ble . i Excuses o ff ered for her d efeat were that the going was extremely heavy and she had suff ered a b ad bU n crossing. t the general op i ion of contemporary writers was that sh e ought to have won . D: M k k aher . her j oc ey , thin ing the outsid er was bound to come bak d I I c to him . allowe Presto to d P retain a long lea . which retty P olly was unable to reduce when th e crucial moment ar ri ved . NOT AT HER BEST A ccording to the Calendar , though the weights carried are dis i p u t ed . Prett Poll w s conced ng y . y a 9 1b to the Wi nner . and the sayin that you can give weight away an you can give distance . but you can not give b oth proved right . H re t t owever . P Polly soon made fe at for amends for this e . she won the F ree Handicap with es t 7 lb in the saddle in a c e nt e r At four years Pretty Polly again beat Z infandel in a c e nt e r in the Coronation Cup . and did the fast est t ime for the E psom i t m i les o To then rec rd ed this victory sh~e added the Champion S tak es L ime k iln S tak es and the Jock ey Club t e Cup of 2 miles 3 furlongs . and tired at the end of the season with an unbeaten certificate . At five veat s Pretty Polly won the M S k arch ta es . the Coronation Cup for the second time . but met defeat for the second time in her career in the Ascot G old Cup won by B ’ chelor s Button . a ‘ Whether on this fateful day Pretty Polly was at her best is open t o s for di cussion . she had a wart on her abdomen . which had to be lanced on the day of the race . and it was noticed that for the first time in her glorious career she was reluctant to leave the paddock S h e was defeated . but not dis g t o raced , for she onl succumbed ' y B achelor s B utton by a len gth . after a desperate race . Thus ended the racing career 0 1 a great and loveable mare He r reputation might have b een even e re ter . for there can be no doubt e hat . had she b en entered for the Two Thousand G uineas and the e b y she would have won th em g0 gl Thus she would have stood out in bold relief as the only mare to win all the five classics— afeat yet . F . to be accomplished G .