This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ...other. The question is of which? Persimmon is the bigger horse with the longer stride, he is in all ways well suited to the Doncaster course, and he will be ridden by Watts, who is a superlatively good horseman. Persimmon beat St. Frusquin in the Derby, over the longest course the two have run together; what argument can be advanced to support the idea that the result will be altered on the 9th? The only thing that I can suggest is that St. Frusquin was t quite at his best on the Derby Day, and I am inclined to fancy that this is the case. In the Two Thousand he was t nearly the horse he had shown himself in his first race this year, and both at Newmarket in the Princess of Wales' Stakes, and at Sandown in the Eclipse, he looked to me fresher, harder, and generally better than at Epsom. All accounts from Newmarket agree that since his last appearance he has progressed in the most satisfactory manner possible, and my strong impression is that he will win the Leger. The much regretted death of Lord Limerick reminds me of an odd experience which is perhaps just worth a Note. Some years ago I made the acquaintance of a Colonel Hunter, and accepted an invitation to dine at his house. The late Lord Limerick, a first cousin of the Colonel, was one of the party, and after dinner we three sat down to play whist, ather cousin--whose name I forget--making the fourth. As my host dealt, I ticed for the first time that he had thumb on his right hand. Afterwards I learned that it had been blown off, and it is strange, having seen him on several previous occasions, that I had t ticed the loss. Such, however, was the case. The glance which revealed this loss led to my thinking how curious a thumbless hand looked, and by way of comparing it with a...