The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-31
 HIGH BRED HORSES NOT ALWAYS BEST Story of Isinglass and His
 Ancestry RACE BETTING IS DEAD Believed Chevalier Ginistrelli With drew His Horse, Signorinetta,
 From Sale on Account
 of Sentiment
RACE BETTING IS DEAD
nr RIcHARD nAHLGREN

London, December .-(Special)-Far be it from me to decay in any degree the prime importance of blood in thoroughly bred stock. If one thing has been dem- onstrated it is that heredity counts be- yond almost anything else in the breed ing of race horses, but once in awhile there comes one of those exceptions which make recognized. well established rules look foolish. The recent death of the great race horse of the late Mr. Henry Mecalmont, Isinglass at New Market is a case in point.
 Isinglass admittedly one of the very greatest horses which has ever graced the British turf, who won for his owner nearly $300,o0o in stakes and purses and who in 1893 captured the Triple Conn the Two Thousand Guineas, the Derby and the St. Leger, and who has headed the list of winning sires more than once. was the son of a mare who worked in the shafts of dogcast and who was prac- teaHy given away as practically worth- less.
 Here is the story of the mother of IsiAglass.
 Lord Arlington was what is known as "a champion kidder." Captain Maehen was going with him over the stud at Crichel, and, protesting to admire one or the mares. said Now, there's a mare that is worth G500 of anybody money" Captain MacheH playfully answered, 'I will give you twenty" and to his sur prise Lord Arlington said, She's yours Captain Machell was by no means keen on the purchase, even at that, and said that he must have sov. for luck penny" and this was at once given him. This is the short and simple story of the purchase of Deadlock, as told us from Lord Arlngtons own lips. Captain Ma chen at that time had the run of Is oaomy, and put his new purchase to him, and would seem to have transferred her to MT. McCalmont. The product was Isnglass, who was beaten only once, ara that was over comparatively short dis lance, when his jockey, frightened of the 10 pound penalty he was carrying, rode him for speed, and he was second. Isin- glass most assuredly ranks as a horse of the century and he was the best of his year at two three, four and five years of age. He won the Two Thou sand Derby, St. Leger, and at two years of age, the Middle Park and many other races. At four years of age he won three of the ten thousand pounders and at five years crowned the edifice' by winning the Ascot cup. He was a horse that you could back with perfect con fidence. He was perhaps, even a better horse than he showed himself to be, as he was always ridden by the short-legged jockey, little Tommy Loates. What he would have done with a powerful horse- man like Gustance in the saddle, who could have got his legs well round him, we can only conjecture-but after all, eX- cept on one occasion, he did all there was to do.
 Isinglass. a most Iovable horse, of tne Thornmanby type, and a child might lead him. A really great horse, and a sweet tempered one furnishes blood that is to be prized in these days of brilliant brutes. In the opinion of the great York shire judge, MT. Harrington, he was the perfection of make and shape, and he would have given him the blue ribbon even with the Flying Dutchman in the Bhow According to Captain Machell, he was equally good at five furlongs as at five miles. Lord Arlington, Captain Ma rhell. Colonel McCalmont, James levitt and Tommy Loates all are dead. And it Is only sixteen years since Isinglass ran his last race.
 see 1t is announced that Lomond and White Star will be the winter favortes for the derby. The fact is that winter betting, either on the derby or on the spring handicaps, is dead and d--d," as Lord Beaconsfield remarked of protection It appears to be very likely indeed that next years derby will fall to @ Frencha horse.
 Mir. Vanderbilt's Montrose II, by Main- fenon oat of Mario, has proved himself 10 be a 2-year-old of the very highest class, and he appears to be endowed with both fine speed and good stamina. He is not handsome colt but he is racer of Tuperlative merit. Nontrose 1T has been left in for the derby, and he is also en- gagged in the Eclipse stakes of 1913. Mr. Vanderbilt has another very smart 2-year- old, Petulanoe by Maintenon out of Per- petua, who has no engagement in Eng land.
 The weight for age stakes at Derby arc very literally supported by owners, al- though the conditions are not particularly attractive. There are 217 entries for the Champion Breeders Foal Plate of S6250, to be run in September, 1913. One of Lord Dalmouth's foals is a half-brother by St. Frusquin, to Belleisle and one of Lord Rosebery is a half-brother, by Marco to Neil Cow; while MT. Hall Walkers lot in- clude a half-brother, by White Eagle to Royal Realm, and one of Lord Derby's is a half-sister, by Radium, to Bridge of Canny.
 
 way to pressure of sentiment when he withdrew Signorinetta from the bloodstock gales at Newmarket during the week after k37. 500 had been offered for her. Whether the mare is worth so much money is mat ter for debate. She is, believe, in foal to Thrush, and of course, that fact aug ments her value very considerably. Thrush was very nearly, if not quite. the sprint champion of his time, and as Signorinetta is bred to stay for a week, the produce should be useful. It may not be general ly known that the sire and dam of Sig norinetta were mated quite accidentally that it was, in fact, Chevalier Ginistrelli's intention to put Sgnorinetta to quite an other horse than Chalereaux. The lilly has proved a wonderfully remunerative aeei- dent and I am surprised that she was not bought the first time she was put up The probable explanation is that her blood is not fashionable, and that she won the derby from a field of fat horses. Chevalier Cfinistreili may not be the cleverest trainer fin existence, but as lover of horses he is i without equal. Few who witnessed ir sYill forget the scene on the day that Sig riorinetta won the derby. Evidently the Chevalier had not anticipated victory for he had come attired in an old tweed suit of yellow and an old straw hat. When he received the summons to the royal box he protested that he was not fit to be seen, but he went nevertheless. King Ed ward greeted him as if he had known him all his life and congratulated him with the greatest heartiness. One of the greatest charms of our late lamented mon- arch was his skindliness on all occasions.
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