GREAT ENGLISH RACEHORSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

GREAT ENGLISH RACEHORSES.

LUXURIOUS QUARTERS OF FAMOUS

THOROUGHBREDS. AN" English correspondent of an American paper writes -.—The Duke of Westminster owns some of the finest racehorses in.England, and it was our good fortune to see them, though travellers are not usually shown the stables. These latter are located to the left as you enter the park, and not far from the river. After manipulating the assistant groom, who went through the red tape of consulting the head groom, we were shown into the paddocks, and seized the opportunity of inspecting three of England's greatest thoroughbreds —Ormonde, Ben d'Or, and Shotoverall Derby winners. The greatest of these is Ormonde, a truly superb-looking animal. Several years ago he won the three big events of the English turf year—the Derby, the St. Leger, and the Two Thousand Guineas. His winnings for his owner amounted to in the neighbourhood of £20,000. Ho is a great-sized bay, reminding me somewhat of our own great Ten Broeck, though I do not think he is the horse Ten Broeck was. He is sixteen hands one and one-quarter inches in height and has haunches which indicate a wonderful power and staying qualities, and such as I have never seen upon any horse before but Ten Broeck. His head and eyes betoken a good nature, and his fine black legs taper gracefully to larger hoofs than you would expect in such a horse. Were Ormonde a trifle longer It would say he was much like the great Emperor of Norfolk also. Next to Ormonde's room is that of Ben d'Or, his sire, the dam being Lily Agnes. These two horses occupy an entire stable, with a yard 20 x 30 feet on either side. The roomsyou couldn't call them stalls —are 15 x 20 feet, the walls being of walnut, and the ceilings, which slant up to a cupola on each side, of tiling. Between the room and the yard in which the horse exercises are large sliding doors of walnut, and as beautifully finished as though for a parlour. The horses are a sort of dukes in thoroughbreddom. Ben d'Or shows his Arabian origin in the curve of his neck and in the shape of his wicked-looking head. He is a light chestnut and is covered with peculiarlooking dark spots. Hie assistant groom didn't appear to think much of Shotover, though he pronounced her one of the few mares who have won the Derby. " You know, sir," said he, " 'osses all 'ave their hoff days and fields are sometimes better than others," which was his explanation of how Shotover won the Derby. These three horses won their owner in the neighbourhood of £60,000. Ben d'Or and Ormonde are in the stud, and Shotover was in foal when we saw her. Probably you are acquainted with her namesake in America.