6 MAY 1911, Page 16

" KETTLEDRUM."

[TO THE EDITOR 07 THE "SPECTATOR."]

Sin,—The writer of "Half a Century with Horses," in the Spectator of April 22nd, says : " One of the fastest Derbys was won by a chestnut named 'Kettledrum,' about fifteen and a half bands high. The writer had the pleasure of seeing him in the paddock after the great event. He was utterly unlike the conventional racehorse of the illustrated papers and framed engravings." I saw Kettledrum' win the Derby in 186], and some time later saw him at Colonel Townley's stud farm, where he had as a stable companion ' King of Trumps,' another chestnut. My recollection is that Kettle- drum' was a tall, spindle-shanked animal, not very unlike "the conventional racehorse "—much over 15.2. I cannot say what his height was, but I measured his forelegs—seven inches and a half below the knee. King of Trumps' measured the same, but he was a little horse, long and low and good-looking, a great contrast to 'Kettledrum,' as I thought. I have just measured the foreleg of the only thoroughbred two-year-old I possess (foaled April 23rd). He measures over eight inches. There must be a. record some- where of Kettledrum's' exact height. Can any one give