THE DERBY OF 1861. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "]
Sis,—Your correspondent, Mr. R. E. Longfield, inquires in the pages of the Spectator of May 6th for information as to 'Kettledrum's' exact height. The following is a description of 'Kettledrum' given in the best record of 1861 "'Kettledrum' is a dark chestnut colt, standing an honest sixteen hands high. He has a plainish but by no means a bad head. He has a straight, strong neck, which he carries 'poking' out, and powerful, tolerably well-laid shoulders. He has a good back and barrel, great depth of girth with arched loins and very muscular quarters drooping towards the tail. His arms and thighs are large, his knees and hocks good, with long springy pasterns. He bears a strong resemblance to his sire, Rataplan,' but with more style and less lumber about him. We thought as we saw him we had never seen a big one so admirably prepared."
Pray accept my apologies for this frivolous contribution to your paper, which I always read in a serious mood.—I am,
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