COLOUR IN HORSES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 943, 2 April 1908, Page 6

COLOUR IN HORSES.

In Sir Walter Gilbey’s book, entitled “Horse-breeding to Colour,” just published, referring to the reason for the frequency of certain colours, and the decrease of others, it may be interesting to know that the Derby has been won by 34 chestnuts, 24 browns, 66 bays, one “ bay or brown” (Voloyovski), one grey (Gustavus, 1821), and one black (Smolensko, 1813). Flying Dutchman (1849) is not included in the list. There seems to have been difficulty in defining his colour. Flying Dutchman is described as “ probably the best racehorse whose colour most nearly approached black.” According to a painting by Herring, in Lord Rosebery’s possession, Flying Dutchman was black; but Sir Walter Gilbey says “ Smolensko is the only black horse that has won the Derby.”