ruled him out of the event. The injury provoked such “sinister rumours” that Minting’s connections published the colt’s veterinary notes to prove their version of events. In fact the injury was so serious that Minting was unable to run again that year. 1887: four-year-old season Minting returned on 7 June at Royal Ascot when he ran in the Jubilee Handicap over one mile. Ridden by the veteran John Osborne, he won easily from St Mirin, who was receiving twelve pounds, with the Eclipse Stakes winner Bendigo finishing a remote third. This performance, together with Ormonde’s worsening wind trouble (he had become a roarer), made the second meeting between the two colts in the Hardwicke Stakes three days later a much-anticipated one. Minting, starting 7/4 second favourite, took the lead and set a strong pace with the hope of exposing any weaknesses in the favourites breathing. He turned back several challengers before Ormonde moved up alongside him in the straight. A “magnificent race” ensued, in which Minting was beaten a neck amid scenes of the wildest excitement. 1888: five-year-old season On his five-year-old debut, Minting ran in the Great Jubilee Handicap over one mile at Kempton. He won the race by three lengths “in a canter” carrying 140 pounds, conceding 46 pounds to the runner-up. The win led to Minting being described as the crack horse of the English Turf. Another writer opined that in beating such a strong field, so easily with such a weight was "a feat I have never seen, nor shall I ever again." In June he returned to Royal Ascot for a much less competitive renewal of the Hardwicke Stakes in which he had no difficulty conceding 46 pounds to his only opponent, a three-year-old filly named Love in Idleness. He missed his other target at the meeting, the Royal Hunt Cup, having been assigned an unprecedented weight of 156 pounds. When it was announced shortly afterwards that Minting would be retiring to stud at the end of the season, his “book” of mares was filled within a day. In autumn, he was sent to Newmarket for the Champion Stakes on October 10 against six rivals. He started 60/100 favourite but was beaten half a length by the three-year-old Friar’s Balsam. Assessment Minting's earnings of £7,396 were the third highest by any horse in 1885. In early 1888 the official handicappers rated Minting fifteen pound superior