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JOHNA.SEAVERNS

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES
BELT AND CAP

GREENi YELLOW SLEEVES
BELT AND CAP

ALFRED E. T. WATSON

Assistant Editor of 'The Badminton Library,' Sectional Editor of the
' Encyclopaedia Britannica,' Editor 'Badminton Magazine '

Author of 'Sketches in the Hunting Field,' 'Racecourse and Covertside '

' The Racing World and its Inhabitants,' ' Racing and 'Chasing '

' King Edward VII. as a Sportsman,' etc.

Printed /or p^-ivate circulation, 'Lord Derby's Racehorses'
' Galicia : Her Forbears and her Oft'spring '

PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR MR. FRANK BIBBY
OF HARDHTCKE GRANGE, SHREIYSBURY

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO.
39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON

FOURTH AVENUE AND 30th STREET, NEW YORK
BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND MADRAS

1919

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

PAGE

" The Liverpool --------- i

CHAPTER H

Some Liverpools, including Kirkland's - - - 31

CHAPTER HI
Some more Liverpools, including Glenside's - - 93

CHAPTER IV

The National Hunt, Lancashire, and Grand Sefton

Steeplechases - - - - - - . - ^38

CHAPTER V
Some Winners -.-...-- 180

CHAPTER VI
On the Flat --------- 206

Caubeen's Pedigree - - 218

Frank Bibby's North End Stud, Exning - - - 219

Individual Description of the Fences constituting

the Grand National Steeplechase - - - 221

ILLUSTRATIONS

Caubeen - - Frontispiece

Photogravure

FACING PAGE

F. Mason on Kirkland 32

PhotO':^ravure

Grand National. Course as seen from the Stands - 44

Kirkland leading the Parade at Liverpool - - 70

Precentor II. and Caubeen at Aintree - - 84

Caubeen - - - 90

Mr. J. R. Anthony on Glenside ----- 93

Photogravure

Glenside and Shady Girl jumping Valentine's

Brook - - - - - - - - - 106

Comfit 147

WiCKHAM - - -152

Red Coil - - - - - - - - - 156

Leamington 162

Sweet Cecil ig^

Aerostat 188

Ben Ruadh ------- - i^q

Plan of the Liverpool Grand National Steeple

Chase Course - 220

CHAPTER I

"THE LIVERPOOL"

Every sportsman who owns a 'chaser has one great
ambition — to win a Liverpool, as the Grand National
is usually called in conversational phraseology and by
writers on Turf affairs. If the Fates are propitious and
luck being with him our owner is blessed, his ardent
desire being once gratified he seems to be even keener
still to win a second. I think there can be no doubt
that with the owner of Liverpool horses appetite grows
by what it feeds on. In the history of the race, so far
as I am acquainted with it and that acquaintance is
scarcely casual, no man has ever won it more than thrice,
and only one has been so fortunate as to achieve three
victories. The late Sir Charles Assheton-Smith, when
in the year 1893 known as Charles — or more commonly
as Charlie — Duff, carried off the infinitely coveted prize
with Cloister, and after succeeding to the property which
involved the change of name, won again with Jerry M.
in 191 2 and with Covertcoat in 19 13. I was his guest
at Liverpool in Cloister's year and again in 19 14, when
Covertcoat, starting favourite, never showed promi-

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

nently in the course of the struggle — on this last
occasion a guest without a host, for my old friend's heart
was affected, and he was persuaded not to risk the
excitement of watching his horse run, so that his son
Robin, one of the early victims of the war only a few
weeks after he had succeeded to the title and estates,
entertained the party. I know how much these three
Liverpools, far from satiating Charlie Duff, to employ
the name which comes up most familiarly, increased his
eagerness to secure a fourth ; for he was in the habit of
constantly calling on me or writing, sometimes by
express, to consult me about animals he was more or
less disposed to buy in the hope of making his trio of
victories a quartet.

This book is the story of two Liverpool winners the
property of Mr. Frank Bibby of Hardwicke Grange,
near Shrewsbury, one of the very few owners whose
names are written twice in letters of gold over the
chimney-piece of the County Stand at Aintree ; the
story of these two winners, and in particular, amongst
other bearers of the green, yellow sleeves, belt and cap
which I have taken as the title of this volume, of
Caubeen, an admirable specimen of the 'chaser — a
model Liverpool horse, unless the criticism be advanced
that he was rather too good-looking — deemed by most of
his admirers unfortunate in never having won a Liver-
pool also. Kirkland, to whom we shall come in due
course, won in 1905, Glenside in 191 1, Caubeen ran

"THE LIVERPOOL"

four times, from 1909 to 19 12. On a previous page
I have emphasised the necessity of luck if the owner of
the best horse in the field is to reap the reward, and in
the case of Caubeen the luck was persistently against
him, as we shall see when we reach the years in which
he went to the post.

Some readers into whose hands this book may fall,
those not intimately acquainted with the subject of sport
under National Hunt Rules, will perhaps be inclined to
wonder why the Liverpool stands out by itself, as it does
admittedly, without question, unique. Good horses
are found at other meetings, where it often happens that
formidable fences have to be jumped, and the spectacle
frequently creates much enthusiasm and excitement.
But as a test of a great steeplechaser nothing approaches
the Liverpool. No other race is contested over so long
a distance, 4 miles 856 yards ; on no other course are
there fences which resemble the big, stiff obstacles at
Aintree. It is just about as severe a test as well-
schooled horses of proved capacity can reasonably be
called upon to undergo ; at the same time it is not too
severe for those who are really qualified to take part
in it.

In normal times there used to be many hundreds of
'chasers in training, certainly not five per cent, of whom
had the least pretension to be regarded as Liverpool
horses. Many owners have found annually that their
aspirations were hopeless. Animals who had seemed to

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT, AND CAP

show some promise of training on into that rare product
of the thoroughbred, the " Liverpool horse," have
proved themselves unmistakably lacking in the essential
attributes. Thus it has befallen that during the last
forty years the average number of starters, of horses
found worthy to compete in a Liverpool, has been a
fraction over twenty. This I calculate to be much
under two per cent., not much over one per cent., of
the jumpers in training, and there are exceedingly few
owners who would fail to take advantage of the chance
if they had a horse whose getting round seemed fairly
possible ; indeed, every year the entry has included
animals whose presence has rather tended to provoke a
smile, so completely have they appeared to be out of
their class.

The only thing that could ever be urged against the
great 'chase to counterbalance the fact of its being the
glory of 'cross country sport was that to some extent it
weakened interest In racing under National Hunt Rules
towards the close of the year. This was because certain
owners had an eye to the prospective Liverpool handi-
cap, and were reluctant to draw attention to horses who
were showing anything like good form. I think they
were In the vast majority of cases unduly cautious, for
at any rate of late years Mr. E. A. C. Topham — and in
former days Mr. Reginald Mainwaring, when he had a
hand In the compilation — were in the habit of adjusting
the weights in a very great measure exclusively on what

"THE LIVERPOOL"

horses had done over the Aintree course. Still, there
was always a contingent engaged for the first time, and
in the cases of these the handicappers were bound to
judge them by what they had done elsewhere, at the
same time, however, realising that winners of good
races at Park or other meetings were by no means
necessarily Liverpool horses, that, in fact, probabilities
were altogether against their ever coming into the select
category. As for the number of runners, on two occa-
sions the field has extended to two and thirty, when
Abd-el-Kader won in 1850 and when the French five-
year-old, M. R. Hennessy's Lutteur III., came over in
1909; twice only ten runners have gone to the post,
when Charity won before the race became a handicap in
1 841, and again in 1883, when the present Prince
Kinsky, then Count Charles, won on his own mare,
Zoedone.

Something should be said about what may be
described with little fear of effective contradiction as
the most famous steeplechase course in the world — one
may admire Auteuil and other places without a pretence
that they are comparable with Aintree. Precisely how
this place came to be selected is not known. Some years
ago I wrote a large book entitled " Lord Derby's Race-
horses " for the present Earl, and the family papers he
provided to aid the task made mention of various other
courses in Lancashire. The earliest was at Wallasey,
where there are records of racing in 1682. William,

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

the sixth Earl of Derby, was then in possession, and it
is recorded not only that King James the First attended
Wallasey Races, but that the Duke of Monmouth won
a £60 Plate there on the I2th of September in the year
mentioned, the Mayor of Chester, with a troop of forty
horsemen, riding over to witness the sport. What we
should now call " the card " was much mixed, amongst
other items "the Duke had two foot races with Mr.
Cutts of Cambridgeshire, the first stripped, and after in
his boots, both of which he won." At that period, or
at least early in the eighteenth century, the most con-
siderable stake in the kingdom was contested on the
Wallasey course. The Dukes of Devonshire and
Bridgwater, the Earls of Derby and Barrymore,
Viscount Molyneux, Lord Gower, Sir William
Williams, Sir Richard Grosvenor, Mr. Cholmondeley
of Vale Royal, and Mr. Berkeley Mackworth then
agreed to subscribe twenty guineas each annually for ten
years successively to be run for on the course at
Wallasey on the first Thursday in May in each year.
There were races also at Preston, one of which the Lord
Derby of the period carried off with his bay gelding
Looby, who, after finishing last of the four starters in
the first heat, won the other two. This, however, refers
exclusively to the flat. When steeplechasing was intro-
duced to this district I have been unable to ascertain.
It appears that there had been races at Aintree, though
precisely what sort of races cannot certainly be stated,

"THE LIVERPOOL"

prior to the year 1839, when a syndicate of local sports-
men, who had lately taken over the lease of the Grand
Stand and Racecourse, designed what has come to be
known as the Grand National. It was then called
the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase, with the following
conditions :

"A sweepstake of 20 sovs. each, 5 forfeit, with 100
added ; 1 2 st. each, gentlemen riders ; four miles across
the country ; second to save his stake, and the winner
to pay 10 sovs. towards expenses ; no rider to open a
gate or ride through a gateway, or more than 20 yards
along any road, footpath or driftway."

For a great many years prior to the war the Grand
National invariably took place in the first week of the
season, at the Liverpool Spring Meeting, which followed
immediately on the Lincoln Meeting, the Rule of
Racing which dealt with the subject laying it down
that " no race shall be run earlier than in the week which
includes the 25th March, unless that be the one next
before Easter Sunday, in which case races may be run
in the week preceding." The precise date when this
rule came into force I am unable to give, at any rate it
was later than 1864, as in that year I find that the Grand
National, won by Lord Coventry's Emblematic, took
place on the 9th March.

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

1839

The first race in 1839 ^^^ contested on the
26th February, and is recorded to have " occasioned
unusual interest, as shown by the number of visitors
who made their way to the scene of action." I may
here quote from a writer of the period, who says, " in
the course of Sunday and Monday visitors poured in
from all quarters, and a high degree of excitement was
manifested. The racecourse was visited by hundreds ;
the line of country inspected (for secrecy here is impos-
sible) ; the sporting houses were crowded to excess, and
one of them — the Talbot — was honoured with the
presence of several Corinthians from Melton." The
mention of the "hundreds" of visitors and of the
" several " Corinthians shows that the National eighty
years ago was a very pale reflex of what it became.
For years before the war not only Liverpool but all
towns within reachable radius were thronged, and on
the day special trains bore their thousands from all parts
of England. Multitudes of Irishmen also found their
way.

The chronicler goes on to remark, " on Tuesday
morning the folks were astir betimes, for in addition
to the grand afiair there was a second steeplechase in
heats to be decided. The town therefore was soon in a
delicious ferment ; the streets were thronged, the cus-
tomary queries, ' How many go} "* ' When do they

"THE LIVERPOOL"

start ? ' and ' Which is the favourite ? ' assailed our ears
in every direction and in every possible variety of
dialect." All this seems strange, and one is forced to
judge that the newspapers of the period were, as it
seems to us, strangely lacking in information. For
many years past long before the day of the race fairly
accurate lists of starters have been compiled ; it has been
known at what hour the start would take place ; indeed,
the only one of the three questions quoted which had
not become obsolete was " Which is the favourite ? "
for though several horses would inevitably have been
prominent in the market for days or weeks prior to the
event, there have been many occasions when it was
difficult to say, even shortly before the start, which of
the runners would be absolutely in most demand.

At this first Liverpool the authorities would not allow
any police to be engaged, in consequence of which a
body of special constables was organised, notwithstand-
ing which, however, there seems to have been some
trouble, for it is stated that one of the riders, Mr.
W. McDonough, on an animal named Rust, was so
hemmed in by the mob when he jumped into a lane
that any chance of his winning was at once destroyed.
An account of the fences then in existence will be read
with interest. There were three brooks, the first that
which has become so well known as Becher's, originally
a mere ditch five or six feet wide, which was made up
with a strong timber fence 3 feet high, placed about a

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

yard from the bank on the taking-off side. In his
book, " Heroes and Heroines of the Grand National,"
Mr. Finch Mason, the author, observes that "a horse
to get fairly over would have to jump at least 23 or
24 feet." He was apparently not aware that even when
easily swinging over hurdles a horse almost invariably
covers considerably more than this distance. I touched
on this subject in my reminiscences, published in 191 8,
entitled "A Sporting and Dramatic Career," describing
how, when watching some hurdlers at their work one
morning at Danebury, I had asked Tom Cannon
whether they did not jar themselves in landing on a
road which ran just behind the flight near to which we
were sitting on our hacks. I was not a little surprised
to hear that none of the jumpers ever touched this road,
and on measuring the ground which one of the horses
had cleared over their jump we found the distance was
28 feet.

There was a second brook at Aintree, which I am not
able at present to locate. The chronicler of the period
described it as "a very decent jump, made by converting
a foot ditch into an eight foot brook with timber in
front of it." The third brook was that now known
as Valentine's, the difficulty here and at Becher's Brook
being that horses formerly took off from plough. In
this first National it appears that different fences were
jumped the second time round, one of these being a
stiff post and rail, and immediately in front of the Grand

"THE LIVERPOOL"

Stand was a wall, 4 ft. 8K inches in height, which was
done away with not long afterwards in consequence of
its dangerous nature.

For the first Liverpool there were fifty-five entries, of
whom seventeen went to the post. Only two were ridden
by their owners ; Mr. Fergusson was on his own Daxon,
though he started two others, one Rust, of whom men-
tion has just been made. The other owner who rode
was Mr. Newcombe on Cannonball. There was an
amateur starter in Lord Sefton, who is described also
as " umpire," a position which must have involved
heavy responsibilities. Part of his duty was to explain
to the riders what course they were to follow. There
could be no mistake about their having to jump the
brook which became known as Becher's in consequence
of the famous Captain who bore that name, and who
was riding Captain Childe's Conrad, falling into it before
much of the journey had been accomplished. Bark-
ston, Mr. Fergusson's second string, fell at the next
brook, and Daxon came down at the third. Apparently
he was a bad water jumper, for though remounted, he
fell again at the brook which had brought down his
stable companion. Mr. Elmore's Lottery, whose fame
has descended to us, ridden by Jim Mason, another of
the immortals, had been favourite at 5 to i, and won at
his ease, though only by three lengths. He is reported
to have cleared 33 ft. over the last fence, which is, in
fact, much about what might have been expected, but

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

another matter which will occasion a little surprise is the
slowness of the pace. The distance, as already
remarked, was only four miles, and the time occupied
seven seconds less than a quarter of an hour. We have
to make allowance, of course, for doubtless a consider-
able amount of plough ; still, it seems remarkable that,
Lottery having taken the time mentioned, Kirkland
should have covered the course extending over an addi-
tional half mile in 9 minutes 48Vsth seconds. Times
are calculated, it will be seen, to fifths of a second, and
the difference in speed between the old days and the
present will be realised .when it is noted that the famous
Lottery took more than five minutes longer to cover a
distance of half a mile less !

1840

Perhaps the most remarkable feature about the second
Liverpool was that just half of the dozen starters came
from Ireland, and this half dozen does not include the
Marquess of Waterford's The Sea, owner up. Lottery
reappeared with a 7 lb. penalty, but was one of four
who came to grief at the wall. Only two owners rode
their own horses. Lord Waterford, as just mentioned,
and Mr. Power, one of the Irish division. He had a
heavy bet that he would be first over the wall, and
landed his wager. Lottery, who was almost level with
him, fell heavily, as did Seventy Four, Tom Oliver
coming to grief on the horse who had carried him safely

"THE LIVERPOOL"

round the previous year. Mr. Villebois' Jerry took the
prize, ridden by Mr. Bretherton.

1841
One result of the accident in 1840 was the abolition
of the wall, and Lottery in 1841 started favourite at
5 to 2. A suspicion existed that the conditions of the
race had been framed for the purpose of stopping Mr.
Elmore's great jumper, for the winner of the Chelten-
ham Steeplechase, which Lottery had taken the previous
season, was set to carry a penalty of 18 lb. This made
the horse's weight i3st. 4 lb., and Jim Mason pulled
him up when he found that the state of the case was
hopeless. This year, 1841, the time is given as
13 mins. 25 seconds, occupied by Lord Craven's
Charity. A certain amount of suspicion always attaches
to the times of races at that period and for a great many
years afterwards, it being suspected that the attempts
were casually made by unaccustomed timists with
ordinary watches upon which dependence could not be

placed.

1842

Again in 1842 Lottery was favourite, and again he
had the 1 8 lb. penalty, all the other fourteen runners
carrying 1 2 st. This was to be the first of Tom Oliver's
wins, which he accomplished on Gaylad, Mr. Elmore's
second string. Lottery was again pulled up, and Peter
Simple would, it is said, in all probability have won but

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

that, to quote the account of the race, he was "baulked
by the crowd at the bullfinch out of the lane and threw
his jockey," the owner, Mr. Hunter. We are thus
informed that there was a bullfinch among the obstacles,
^d it is also to be gathered that the finish was over a
couple of hurdles, as it continued to be till a compara-
tively late period. This was unquestionably a great
mistake on the part of those responsible for the course.
After jumping the huge fences horses were, as a matter
of course, inclined to chance these puny obstacles, which
were on several occasions nevertheless sufficient to upset
them.

1843
In 1843 ^^ ^^y t>e said that the Liverpool as we know
it was started, for the race was made a handicap,
described as the " Liverpool and National Steeplechase,"
a dual title which may perhaps account for it being called
sometimes by one name and sometimes by the other.
I cannot make out whether the distance was four miles
or four miles and a half, and I can find no record of the
time, which would be to some extent a guide, even
though it might not appear conclusive. The wall was
restored, or at least there was a wall, but not a very
formidable one ; it had been reduced to four feet and
had a layer of turf on the top. Yet once more Lottery
essayed the adventure, with only a 5 lb. penalty, and
belief in him remained so strong that he was second
favourite at 4 to i, the actual first choice being Peter

"THE LIVERPOOL"

Simple, who was becoming almost as notable a standing
dish as Mr. Elmore's horse. Neither he nor Peter
Simple ever appears to have been dangerous, and the
race went to Lord Chesterfield's Vanguard, Tom Oliver
again in the saddle. One incident noted is that Mr.
Holman's Dragsman swerved at a fence and jumped
sideways over a gate, from which it may be inferred
that the course was not laid out with anything like the
directness known to the present and, indeed, the last
generation. There must have been a great deal of
latitude if jumping a gate were possible.

1845-46

If I discussed all the Liverpools the book would run
to unwieldy dimensions, and I can only touch upon a
comparatively few. A horse named Peter Simple made
his fifth appearance in 1845, and came near winning,
running second to Mr. W. S. Crawfurd's Cure-All, to
whom he was giving 7 lb. Next season he led for what
seems to have been a considerable distance, but dropped
out of it a long way from home, and, indeed, he does
not appear to have been much fancied, though at any rate
more so than the winner, Mr. Adams's Pioneer, a hope-
less outsider not quoted in the betting, said to have
looked rough in his coat and untrained, and ridden by
an absolutely unknown jockey. There is a statement
that the distance this year was " nearly five miles," so

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

that it is impossible to compare what happened at these
old Liverpools with the events of recent years.

1847-48

The race was evidently becoming more attractive, for

in 1847, when Matthew won, there were twenty-eight

starters, and next year, when Chandler was victorious,

twenty-nine.

1849

I take it that the Peter Simple who scored in 1849
was our old friend, but do not advance this with any
certainty, as in two accounts of the race over which I
am puzzling he is described as a bay half-bred by
Patron, and, as we have seen, in a previous description
he was said to be grey. At any rate up to the seventies
it was nothing unusual to find several horses with the
same name, usually of different ages though not always,
and one has to be cautious therefore about one's assump-
tions. A scandal of the period was to the effect that
Captain d'Arcy, who rode his own horse. Knight of
Gwynne, about whom he had taken the odds to a great
deal of money, offered Cunningham, the rider of Peter
Simple, various bribes, the last one as much as ;^4000,
to stop his mount. It is also said that " Davis the
Leviathan" laid Cunningham 3000 to 30 that he did
not win on Peter Simple. In these days there was no
National Hunt Committee, and I have no idea what
would have happened to a jockey who got into disgrace.

"THE LIVERPOOL"

Lord Sefton seems to have been the controller or
dictator of Aintree, and regularly to have added the
duties of starter to his varied responsibilities. He
might presumably have suspended a jockey at this par-
ticular meeting, but I do not imagine that his authority
would have extended to any other fixtures,

1850-51

In 1850 the field numbered thirty-two, Peter Simple

favourite at 5 to i, burdened, however, with i2st. 2 lb.,

and up to the nineties it was an article of faith with

many keen followers of jumping that even 12 stone was

a prohibitive weight. Presumably the failure of Peter

Simple and of other heavily burdened animals led to

this belief and appeared to confirm it. The race — I am

speaking of 1 8 50 — went to a lightly weighted outsider,

Abd-el-Kader, 9st. 12 lb., the property of Mr. Osborne,

a keen student and supporter of racing, who contributed

to the sporting press of the period, and was the author

of one or two books. The story went that, while

travelling on the Shrewsbury coach, he took a fancy to

the near leader, a good-looking brown mare, whom he

bought for fifty guineas, and after hunting her in

Ireland and winning some steeplechases, sent her to the

paddocks, Abd-el-Kader being one of her offspring.

The horse won again the following season, and one

fancies that he must have done little meantime, have

injured rather than increased his reputation, as he was
B 17

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

only up 61b. in the handicap, to lost. 4 lb. The fact
that Peter Simple was here again seems rather to confirm
the idea that he could not have been the grey who had
done duty so long before. This year, 1851, we read of
some " nasty bank fences," and the doubt still remains
as to the distance of the race, the time occupied having
been one second under ten minutes.

1852

One item with regard to the course in 1852 is made
unmistakable by a letter from Lord Sefton to the
Editor of BelPs Life. That journal had stated that the
water jump opposite the stand had been made large
and dangerous by his lordship's instructions. Lord
Sefton wrote to the paper to the effect that "in the
constant preparation of this artificial fence the workmen
had gradually diminished the depth of the ditch till it
had become a mere splash of water, and I desired that it
might be restored to its former dimensions and no more.
The water is 13 ft. 6 inches in breadth, and more than
4 ft. deep. The rail is about 3 ft. high, strongly made
and leaning towards the water. It is a very large but
perfectly fair jump." Of late years the rule has run
that there must be " a water jump at least 1 2 ft. wide and
2 ft. deep, to be left open, or guarded by a fence not
exceeding three feet in height." The 18 inches is of
comparatively no importance, but if the depth was 4 ft.
steeply cut away on the landing side, instead of with the

"THE LIVERPOOL"

present shelving, it may have been awkward in the days
of Abd-el-Kader — and Miss Mowbray, who won in
1852 — for we often see horses land with a splash. If
they do not clear the water they need not necessarily fall ;
in the fifties, so far as can be made out, a fall must have
been wellnigh inevitable if a horse jumped short.

1853-4
In 1853 Peter Simple, lost. 10 lb., Tom Oliver up,
won for the second time; time 10 mins, 27 H seconds.
We find him again, as also Abd-el-Kader, in 1854, when
the race went to the favourite, Bourton, a half-bred, a
description appended to most of the winners about this
period.

1855

Evidently the class varied considerably. In 1855 it
was said to have been exceedingly poor, and the only
circumstance I see to note is that Sam Darling, a grand-
father of the Beckhampton trainer who has had no
superior in his craft within living memory, rode Miss
Mowbray, second favourite at 4 to i. She broke both
her neck and her back, threw her jockey several yards,
and he remained unconscious till aroused by a rap on
the back of the neck from one of the other horses who
galloped over him.

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

1858

The winner in 1858, Little Charlie, was ridden by
W. Archer, father of the famous flat-race jockey, Fred.
Abd-el-Kader was an example of the manner in which
'chasers used to last. He started, but came to grief
at the second fence. One of the most skilful of gentle-
meft riders, Mr. Thomas, won on Anatis in i860. For
the benefit of readers who are acquainted with Turf
history it need hardly be remarked that Thomas was the
nom de course of Mr. Pickernell. The strange thing
about this race is that Anatis, according to report, had
never jumped a fence since taking part in the Liverpool
twelve months previously.

1863

The race of 1863 has special interest as having been
won by Lord Coventry with Emblem, for during the
more than half century which has elapsed no owner has
been more warmly respected and, it maybe said, beloved
than the Earl who at the time of writing, 191 8, still has
horses in training with his friend Mr. Fred Withington
at Stockbridge — stable companions of Mr. Bibby's. In
my reminiscences I quoted a letter written to me by
Lord Suffolk — the eighteenth Earl — on the subject of
Lord Coventry's winners. " Both the mares were
wretched looking devils at first sight. Emblem was all
shoulders and hind quarters, with no ribs at all. I take

''THE LIVERPOOL"

it she was much the better mare of the two, but Lord
Coventry was not in the habit of publishing his trials,
not at least in any paper I took in."

1864
The other mare spoken of was, of course, Emblematic,
who followed her sister's example in 1864. Their
jockey was George Stevens, who must have been an
admirable horseman, though apparently by no means a
dashing one. Lord Suffolk's description of him may
be quoted, as the testimony of an expert. " He was
an undeniably fine rider, with first-class hands, and, I
suppose, an extraordinary knowledge of pace, for his
trick was lying so far out of his ground that it almost
frightened his backers to death. When he won the
Cheltenham Steeplechase on Emblem, who was carrying
an immense weight, he was such a distance behind his
horses that as they passed the stand Lord Coventry
rushed out, asked him what the devil he was about and
ordered him to go on. I fancy Lord Coventry thinks to
this day it won him the race. The real fact, I suppose,
was that Stevens hated the rush and confusion of a
crowd of horses, and would rather chance being slipped
than being jostled ; still, he always seemed to know the
moment to go to them. He won on Emblematic the
moment he jumped on to the racecourse. I remember
hearing Lord Courtenay say to Lord Coventry, ' You
may go down and meet your mare, there's nothing else

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

in it! ' No doubt Emblematic should have won the
Doncaster Steeplechase, then one of the big events, but
in my life I never saw a man in such a funk as Stevens.
His teeth were chattering, though why I could never
make out, for she had fenced perfectly all through the
Liverpool. Of course, he wrestled her down, and to
this day I can remember my disgust after the race (I had
by no means won) when he came and bothered me to
examine his head and tell him if he was much hurt!
He had a tiny cut from a bit of gravel."

In the Sixties and Seventies

In the sixties the Duke of Hamilton was a prominent
supporter of racing and 'chasing, and the victory of his
Cortolvin is to be noted for the fact that the 1 1 st. 13 lb.
which the horse carried was the heaviest weight borne to
victory until 1893, that is to say during the first fifty
years of the race. As already recorded, Abd-el-Kader
had won twice. The Colonel, out of a half-bred mare,
carried off the race in 1869 and 1870, and The Lamb,
belonging to Lord Poulett, having won in 1868,
repeated his victory in 1871. The Lamb was a grey,
and the course over which he scored was as nearly as
possible of the same length as that which has been
subsequently in vogue, thirty yards short of four and a
half miles. Mr. J. M. Richardson, one of the finest
amateurs who ever rode over a fence — though in mention-
ing gentlemen jockeys I have been culpable in omitting

"THE LIVERPOOL"

Captain B. Coventry, who gave an extraordinarily
brilliant exhibition on Alcibiade in 1865 — won in 1873
on Captain Machell's Disturbance, repeating his victory
twelve months later on the same owner's Reugny, a
much inferior animal. Though Reugny started favourite
Disturbance was again in the field, Reugny having only
lost. 1 2 lb. to carry, whilst Disturbance was burdened
with 1 2 St. 9 lb. Second to Reugny was Lord Marcus
Beresford's Chimney Sweep, who turned out an admir-
able 'chaser after having done service as his owner's
second charger when Lord Marcus was in the 7 th
Hussars.

The old saying that a race is never lost until it is
won has on several occasions been strikingly confirmed
at Aintree. I have elsewhere told the story of the
National of 1876, when it was thought that Captain
Machell's Chandos could scarcely be beaten. Experi-
ence has shown that it is odds against any horse getting
round the two circuits of the course, and 100 to 30
against a favourite must be a false price. No more,
however, was to be had against Chandos ; but during
the horse's preparation another animal entered from the
same stable. Regal, had greatly pleased his jockey,
Joseph Cannon, who insisted so strongly on his chance
that when Captain Machell backed Chandos he told the
bookmakers that they " must throw in the black."
There was so little agreement with Joseph Cannon's
view of the situation that 25 to i and more was on offer

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

about "the black" — Regal. Early in the second round
Chandos fell, and the outsider, admirably ridden by
Joseph Cannon, just had a neck the better of the finish
with Congress. Congress was second again next year,
ridden this time by Regal's jockey, and it is perhaps
somewhat strange in the circumstances that he did not
win, for the owner and rider of Austerlitz never
appeared safe in the saddle, and had a habit of clinging
hold to the back of it at every fence.

Irish horses had a great run of luck about this period.
Mr. Garrett Moore, one of a family of horsemen, uncle
of the present Weyhill trainer, Frank Hartigan — about
whom I shall have something to say later in the book, as
he has worn the green, yellow belt and sleeves — won on
his own horse The Liberator, and at this time the
brothers Beasley were constantly to the fore. Mr.
T. Beasley won on Empress — beating the previous
year's winner — in 1880, won again on Woodbrook in
1 88 1, and was second, beaten a head by Lord Manners
on Seaman, on Cyrus in 1882. Mr. T. Beasley was on
the favourite, Zitella, in 1883, but this five-year-old —
only three of that age had won up to that date in the
history of the race — was never dangerous, and Count
Charles, now Prince Kinsky, won, as already noted, on
his own mare Zoedone.

"THE LIVERPOOL"

In the Eighties

It is not often that flat racers have developed into
Liverpool horses. The winner in 1884, however,
Voluptuary, had when the property of his breeder. Lord
Rosebery, run sixth for the Derby, had won the St.
George's Stakes at Liverpool, the Dee Stakes at Chester,
had started for the Leger, and had made two appearances
as a three-year-old, one successfully, at Ascot Second
to him was another of the Beasleys' mounts, Frigate,
who would certainly have been unfortunate if she had
not finally won, for she was second again to Roquefort,
Mr. H. Beasley in the saddle, in 1885; second, Mr.
W. Beasley this time in charge, in 1888, to the present
General E. W. Baird's Playfair ; and in 1889 at length
victorious in the hands of Mr. T. Beasley. After three
seconds a win was surely due! A study of Liverpool
results, however, shows with what curious frequency
placed horses have finally been successful, though it
might be urged that finally is not quite the right word,
as several of them have resumed the habit of running
into places. A detail to be noted about this year is that
no fewer than four winners were behind Frigate ; Mr.
Jardine's Why Not, ridden by his part owner, Mr. C. J.
Cunningham was second, among the followers being
Roquefort — then the property of the reckless multi-
millionaire who called himself Mr. Abington — Gamecock
and Voluptuary. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, to

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

whom 'cross country racing had always appealed, had
two runners, Magic, ridden by John Jones, and Hetty,
by a jockey named Hall who was associated with the
stable. Neither was at all fancied, Magic starting at
25 to I, the mare at 66 to i.

In the Nineties

In 1890 the field was unusually small, only sixteen
going to the post, what may be called the standing
dishes among them, Frigate, Gamecock, Why Not and
Voluptuary ; but Ilex, belonging to an Epsom book-
maker, carried home his light weight. My friend
" Roddy " Owen always maintained that he ought to
have won in 1891 on Cloister, then the property of Lord
Dudley. According to his statement Mr. H. Beasley
on Come Away interfered with him at the last fence,
and there was an objection, which, however, the
Stewards overruled. Here Ilex was third, Roquefort
fourth, Why Not, Gamecock and Voluptuary unplaced.
As it was. Cloister was only beaten half a length, and
what has been said of Frigate applies to him, for the
following season he was second again, his jockey of the
previous year, Roddy Owen, riding the winner, Father
O'Flynn. Cloister, who had passed into the possession
of Mr. Charles Duff, was set to give Father O'Flynn
within a couple of pounds of two stone, and good horse
as Cloister was this proved to be beyond his powers.
Roddy Owen had been passionately devoted to the sport

"THE LIVERPOOL"

in which he so greatly distinguished himself. I may
perhaps note that a memoir of him was produced by his
sister, Mrs, Bovill, in conjunction with my friend Sir
George R. Askwith, and they were good enough to
acknowledge in their Preface the assistance I had been
happy enough to render them. Roddy had declared
that he would win the Liverpool and then give up
riding, a declaration at which, to be frank, we merely
smiled. He had meant what he said, and carried it out.
Thenceforth he devoted himself to his military duties,
and died after doing most gallant service in Egypt,
fulfilling a greater ambition than being victorious at
Aintree, helping materially to secure the Nile for
England.

This chapter is extending beyond the limits I had
designed for it, the main object of the book being to
describe the bearers of the colours I have taken for the
title. Consequently I must curtail the description, upon
which I should like to enlarge, of the gallant victory of
Cloister. It naturally appealed to me more forcibly
because, as already noted, I had the pleasure of being
the guest of the owner, and so shared his anxiety and
appreciated his triumph, for beyond question the per-
formance was one of the most remarkable in the history
of the race. I have previously remarked that experts
held to the opinion that I2 st. was a prohibitive weight
over these tremendous fences. Cloister, however, not
only won with i2 st. 7 lb., but led practically all the way,

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

and cantered home without the semblance of an effort,
the verdict being forty lengths. Visitors to the Liver-
pool do not hesitate to give vent to enthusiasm when the
occasion seems to justify it. The manner in which, in
the words of a popular flat race jockey who was present,
Cloister had "simply jumped his opponents silly" sent
the crowd wild with delight. He was by no means a
good-looking horse, but invincibly courageous, no dis-
tance was too far for him, he was a superlative fencer,
and one of the most amiable creatures imaginable.
After the race we went to see him in his box, where he
enjoyed a hearty feed whilst his owner leaned against
his hind quarters and expatiated on his merits.

Cloister was unable to run in 1894, and elsewhere I
have described at length the mysterious fact that certain
members of the ring knew there was something wrong
with the horse at a time when his owner assuredly had
not the slightest suspicion of the fact. It was his last
appearance at Aintree, and the question must always
remain whether he or Manifesto was the better, as also
whether there has ever been a better still ? Manifesto
made his first appearance, then the property of Mr.
H. M. Dyas, in 1895, and finished fourth to Wild Man
from Borneo. It is recorded that in the following year,
1896, Manifesto fell, a statement strenuously denied by
my friend Mr. J. G. Bulteel, for whom he did such
admirable service at a later period. Mr. Bulteel declares
that the horse never " fell " at Liverpool on this or any

"THE LIVERPOOL"

subsequent occasion, but that here he was knocked
down. Colonel W. Hall- Walker's lightly weighted
The Soarer, ridden by the present General D. G. M,
Campbell, won by a length and a half from Father
O'Flynn, and I am tempted by vanity which I hope
may be held excusable to say that the rider of the
winner, whom at the time I had never had the pleasure
of meeting, was good enough to write to me and tell
me that in no small measure he attributed his success
to the advice I had given in the chapter I had written
on the subject in the " Steeplechasing Volume" of the
Badminton Library, published in 1884. Next year
Manifesto won, beating three horses in whom I was
particularly interested, as they were ridden by friends
of mine, Charlie Beatty second on Filbert, Fred With-
ington only a head behind on Ford of Fyne, Gwyn
Saunders-Davies fourth on Prince Albert. These three
with the same riders started next season, but were not
conspicuous behind Drogheda. Ford of Fyne was
favourite and finished sixth. The race was run in a
blinding snowstorm, which may have affected the result,
indeed Reggie Ward, who was prominent and popular
at the time, always believed that in more favourable
circumstances he would have won on Cathal, who was
beaten three lengfths. Another who had threatened
danger was a constant Liverpool runner named Barcal-
whey, but he came to grief, and drew forth a lament
from his rider, R. Chaloner, that he had earned a fiver

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

and incurred a bill for at least ;^2o for a new set of
teeth.

In 1899 Manifesto rivalled the exploit of Cloister by
carrying home his crushing burden of 1 2 st. 7 lb. The
owner this year had a real good race, having backed his
horse to win little short of ^^40,000. Dealing briefly
with the career of Manifesto, it may be noted that, after
having been fourth in 1895 as aforesaid and winning
in 1897, he won again in 1899, was third in 1900, third
again in 1902, and at the age of fifteen, third for the
third time in 1903.

So much for Liverpools prior to the time when the
green, yellow sleeves, belt and cap were first seen, and
I now come to the purpose of the book, a sketch of the
chief horses by whom the jacket has been carried.

CHAPTER II

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

Mr. Bibby has always been a keen hunting man. This
book deals with the subject of racing, and it is not
within my province therefore to dilate on the admirable
service he did for many years as Master of the North
Shropshire Hounds. That he should freely have met
all demands on his purse may be described as merely a
characteristic, it would have distressed him to withhold
anything that was wanted, but he also expended time
and pains without stint, bent only on assuring the best
obtainable sport. Before the colours were known at the
principal meetings they had become familiar at minor
fixtures, at Tenby, Cardiff, Monmouth, Chepstow, and
other places where the amount of the prizes to be won
is by no means a measure of the sport often provided.
His first absolute success was in the Shropshire Point to
Point in 1895, ^^^ humble heroine being a mare called
Celsia, daughter of an animal who had carried him to
hounds. Celsia was doubtless more at home in the
hunting field than between the flags, for though she ran
on several occasions she does not seem to have been

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

successful elsewhere. My friend Mr. Gwyn Saunders-
Davies used to " go round " on her, and once T see that
at Cardiff in a steeplechase worth £24. some adven-
turous spirits took 6 to i about her and lost their
money.

At the same time an animal called Ringthorpe, a
four-year-old in 1895, was carrying the green and yellow
sleeves, and of him it may be said that he was certainly
well bred, being a son of Althorp, who won the Ascot
Cup of 1886, and Ringlet, who was a notable steeple-
chase mare in her day. Ringthorpe had a busy time of
it at the beginning of his four-year-old career, and he
began early, no later than January, when he was third
for a little steeplechase at Tenby, four runners ; third
again next afternoon, beaten only a short head and a
neck ; second for a hurdle race in Carmarthenshire a
week later, and then attempted a more ambitious test,
for he started for the National Hunt Juvenile Steeple-
chase at Hurst Park in February, the National Hunt, it
will be understood, having held their annual meeting
on that course. He was not in the first three, which
can hardly have surprised his backers, if he had any, as
he was not priced in the market, nor indeed does it
seem that he ever displayed much promise, though some
of the tasks set him were beyond question severe, as, for
instance, in the Great Shropshire Steeplechase at
Ludlow, a ^500 race, which Mr. Saunders-Davies won
on no less an animal than the mighty Cloister. He was

^^>

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

certainly giving Ringthorpe 3 St., though weight for age
wiped off two-thirds of this, and it is not in the least
astonishing that Ringthorpe did not show up. In the
autumn of that year he was sent to Tenby, and here his
capacity was precisely estimated in the Tenby Steeple-
chase over the Flying Course ; Mayflower, an even
money favourite, won by a length from Popgun, 3 to i,
Ringthorpe, 4 to i, another length behind. Ringthorpe
seems to have had an extraordinary habit of running
third, for he occupied the same place next afternoon in
the Grand Stand Steeplechase, moving up one at Cardiff
in December, when second to Popgun. One race he
did carry off, and that was the Meynell Point-to-Point,
an event which friends of the late Sir Peter Walker and
visitors to Osmaston, of whom many of us have such
pleasant recollections, will certainly not forget, for
interest in it was always great. Ringthorpe, moreover,
did win at what may be called a recognised meeting,
the Pembroke Hunt, where Mr. Saunders-Davies
got him home as a five-year-old for the Stewards'
Plate.

I think I am right in saying that Mr. Bibby was largely
induced to take to racing in 1899 on a more ambitious
scale in a great measure because his friend Lieutenant-
Colonel (then Mr.) F. Lort-Phillips, of Lawrenny,
Pembrokeshire, undertook to train horses for him ;
indeed, the association may be described as a partnership,
for it was understood that Mr. Lort-Phillips would take
c 33

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

a sixth share of all the animals who carried the colours.
Mr. Lort-Phillips had trained and ridden with marked
success for a number of years prior to this. He is by
no means inclined to talk of his own achievements, but
I extracted from him the detail that before joining Mr.
Bibby he had sent out the winners of no fewer than
sixty-eight races, in many cases riding them himself,
though he is careful to add that the majority of them
were hunt races, many contested in Warwickshire when
he had the North Warwickshire Hounds.

With regard to training, he is anxious that justice
should be done to his stud groom, Edward Thomas,
who has always been of the greatest assistance to him.
In a letter to me Colonel Lort-Phillips says : " Edward
Thomas is a native of these parts, and had never had
more to do with horses before he came to me than
looking after a hunter and a pony trap. I heard of his
ability from local farmers, and I would sooner have a
Pembrokeshire farmer's opinion of anything to do with
horses than that of almost anyone else. Thomas seemed
intuitively to understand an animal's capabilities ;
instinct raised him head and shoulders above any man
I ever knew, both in the stable and training ground.
But he was young when I first heard of him and without
experience, for which reasons I had the greatest difficulty
in persuading him to come to me. He rather wanted
to go as a porter on the Great Western Railway ! And
this little man in the course of the next six years trained

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

the winners of a National, of two Sefton Steeplechases
and two National Hunt 'Chases."

"The first winner Frank Bibby and I had together,"
Colonel Lort-Phillips continues, "was Lady Lovelace,
a little mare, 15.1, whom I had bought as a five-year-old
for £^0 from the Master of the Pembrokeshire, who
had found her in Ireland. She won fourteen races,
though none of any class. The next horse in my book
is Rickarstown, for whom I gave 36 guineas. He won
four small races, had run six times without winning
before I bought him, and never won again after I sold
him for 86 guineas."

1901
Coming to better known animals, it was in the year
1 90 1 that Mr. Bibby made his first attempt at Aintree —
in the previous chapter I have commented on the
natural ambition of an owner of 'chasers. At the sale
of the Duke of Hamilton's horses a chestnut gelding
named Zodiac was offered. He was a son of Astrology
and Far and Wide, and as a four-year-old in 1900 really
did remarkably well in a humble way, though his first
essay was admittedly not encouraging. On that occa-
sion, at Tenby, he was one of the three out of four
who fell in the Town Steeplechase. He was ridden by
Mr. A. W. Wood, son, I believe, of a Lincolnshire
clergyman, a very competent amateur, one of the best
of his day indeed, and one of the keenest. Zodiac's

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT. AND CAP

second essay was at Ludlow, and there he did not
distinguish himself, but at Derby he was only beaten a
head by the only other competitor, a son of Herald
named Chronicle, on whom odds of 1 1 to 4 were laid.
Herald is remarkable in Turf history as having run to
an almost unexampled age for an entire horse, and
though his stud career cannot be described as particularly
brilliant, he was the sire of a considerable number of
winners, did, I think it may be said, better at the stud
than there had been reason to expect. The day after
his narrow defeat Zodiac, ridden by E. Morgan, who
was frequently found on his back, started a 7 to 4
favourite in the Juvenile Steeplechase Plate, which he
won by half a length, and at the Pembroke Hunt he
won the Stewards' Plate with odds of 5 to 4 on him.
Evidently he was a particularly sound horse, for again
at Ludlow he came out two days running, failing to
show up prominently in the Ludlow Cup, two miles on
the flat, but winning the Oakley Park Steeplechase from
a better favourite in Irish Thisde. At the Pembroke-
shire Hunt he won again, with odds of 3 to i on him,
and after being beaten at Nottingham for a race which
he was apparently not expected to win, as he is not one
of those mentioned in the betting, he accomplished a
performance which gave his owner particular pleasure.
For the Abbeystead Steeplechase at Liverpool he only
had one opponent, a useful colt named Pawnbroker, who
had won the Altcar Four-Year-Old Steeplechase at the

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

Liverpool Spring Meeting, after running second to a
really good horse in Glen Royal for the National Hunt
Steeplechase, which that year took place at Hurst Park.
Pawnbroker's credentials were considered so good that
odds of 4 to I were laid on him, but Zodiac beat him
in a canter by twelve lengths. It was certainly no mean
performance to defeat an animal who had the enormous
advantage of having already successfully surmounted
the Aintree fences.

As a five-year-old Zodiac was less successful. It does
not necessarily follow that a placed horse is unlucky, as
some persons are inclined to hold. At the same time
there is no doubt it often happens that the luck of the
race makes all the difference. Zodiac — to be punctilious
it should be remarked that he was still a four-year-old,
for I am dealing with the 27 th December — was second
to a son of the famous Ascetic named St. Pat. He
was second again, this time for a hurdle race, beaten
three parts of a length, at the Tenby Hunt, and yet
once more second at Liverpool for the Stanley Five-
Year-Old Steeplechase, a somewhat curious contest.
There were four starters, odds of 1 1 to 8 were laid on
Uncle Jack II., ridden by the Lewes trainer Escott,
Zodiac was the outsider of the four. He and Uncle
Jack both fell. The other two, Serapion and Moyfen-
rath, stood up, but nevertheless the two fallers finished
first and second. Evidently it took E. Morgan a long
time to recover his saddle, for he was beaten a distance ;

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Still it is something to finish, especially here. Once
again at Ludlow for the County Steeplechase Zodiac was
second, this time in a field of a dozen. The race was
worth ^212, and naturally brought out a respectable
field, but it was only by a length and a half that Lord
Arravale, ridden by Piggott, was able to get home.

Zodiac's only other attempt as a five-year-old was at
the Liverpool Autumn Meeting, when he started for
the Grand Sefton Steeplechase. This is an event which
always takes a great deal of winning. The field that
year included Barsac, ridden by Mr. Gwyn Saunders-
Davies, a horse who more than once distinguished him-
self in the National, having finished second to the then
Prince of Wales's Ambush, and in front of Manifesto, in
the Spring of this year. Cathal was another animal who
may properly be described as a Liverpool horse. He
also had been second for the National, having run
Drogheda to three lengths in 1898. He was ridden on
that occasion by his owner, Mr. Reginald Ward, one of
the keenest amateurs of his day, or, for the matter of
that, of any other day, and a remarkably able jockey.
Reggie Ward was not robust, however, a blinding snow-
storm probably had more effect on him than on some
of the tougher professionals, one of whom, Gourley,
was little likely to be affected by any sort of weather,
and he had the mount on the winner. For this Grand
Sefton of 1900 others well backed were Coolgardie,
Bloomer, who won with 12 st. 41b. in the saddle. Mill

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

Girl, Shipshape, Sunny Shower, Atheling's Prize, and
another competitor was Drumcree, who was to win the
National three years later. What might have happened
to Zodiac had good fortune been with him cannot be
said, as he came to grief in the country.

It was thought desirable to do some of Zodiac's
National training in public. Early in the February of
1901 he was sharpened up in the Visitors' Handicap
at Tenby Hunt, which he won comfortably, and next
day he scored, though with nothing to spare, in the
Stewards' Handicap Steeplechase. At the Carmarthen-
shire Meeting he resumed his old habit of running
second, this time for the Tally Ho Steeplechase, when,
however, he was endeavouring to give the winner Ever-
leigh 141b., and he was once more second at Hurst Park
for the Riverside Handicap Steeplechase, beaten half a
length by a good steeplechase horse named Levanter,
but finishing many lengths in front of another distinctly
useful animal in Nepcote. Then came the Liverpool.
In my reminiscences I have dealt with this Liver-
pool of 1 90 1, for the reason that I had a special
interest in it. I was at that time managing the
horses of a nephew, Captain H. A. Johnstone of the
7th Hussars. For him I had been lucky enough to
buy at the sale of horses belonging to my friend Harry
McCalmont an animal named Cushendun, who had done
remarkably well, and was considered by his trainer, Mr.
Gwyn Saunders-Davies, who was also here and frequently

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

elsewhere his jockey, to have an excellent chance. Some
idea of the circumstances surrounding the race may be
gathered from what I wrote about it in my book, and
I am tempted to quote.

" Cushendun's owner really took very little interest
in his horses ; more often than not he failed to attend
the meetings at which they came out, but we did go to
Liverpool to see Cushendun run for the National of
1 901. We left Euston at an early hour, breakfasting
in the train, and I congratulated my companion on the
brilliance of the weather, for the sun was shining
brightly. I explained that the horses in the great 'chase
went a long way off into what is called ' the country,'
and unless the atmosphere happened to be clear, as it
was evidently going to be on this occasion, one missed
much of the spectacle. Before we reached Liverpool
the sky clouded over, sleet began to fall, presently
turning into snow. As we drove to Aintree it was
coming down in large flakes, and at three o'clock, when
preparations were being made for the event of the day,
there were some inches of snow on the ground. A
regular blizzard developed. It was almost impossible
to see across the course, and some of the owners and
trainers hastily got up a petition to the Stewards begging
them to postpone the race. Postponement leads to all
sorts of inconveniences, for in the racing season every
day is occupied, and the Stewards decided that the race
must be run. Mr. Saunders-Davies rode Cushendun,

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

having taken some trouble to get down to the weight,
list. 2 lb., and he had his work for nothing. The
snow balled in the horse's feet and he slipped up in the
middle of the field. Mr. Davies always maintained
that with a fair share of luck Cushendun would probably
have won ; at least he should have beaten the winner,
Grudon, at the weights, but Grudon was one of the few
who escaped mishap."

For this Liverpool Levanter, whose name has just
been mentioned, was favourite at 5 to i. He was the
property of Major J. D. Edwards, ridden by F. Mason,
and certainly not over-weighted with 9 st. 131b. Mr.
C. Atherton Brown's Barsac, who has also come into
this story, another of the several with 9 st. 13 lb., was
second favourite at 100 to 14, Mr. H. M. Ripley in the
saddle, and Grudon wound up at no more than 9 to i,
Mr. Bletsoe's old horse carrying 10 st., and being ridden
by Arthur Nightingall, who had won on Why Not in
1894, on Ilex in 1890, and was an extraordinarily fine
horseman. Covert Hack, who carried off the Conyng-
ham Cup on no fewer than three occasions, and a number
of other races, but who apparently could not quite stay
the Liverpool course, was backed at 10 to i, as was
Drumcree, but little hope was entertained of Zodiac.
He was one of the outsiders of the four and twenty
who went to the post. It would be impossible to give
a description of the race, as well nigh all the time the
horses were out of sight in consequence of the snow-

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

storm. It had been prophesied that several of them
and of their riders would almost certainly be hurt, but
curiously enough there were fewer mishaps than usual.
Percy Woodland's mount, True Blue, fatally injured
himself, having been brought down from the same
cause as that which occasioned Cushendun's fall, and his
rider broke a collar bone. As the horses neared the win-
ning post it was dimly discerned that the bearer of a black
jacket and red cap was in front, and this was identified
as Grudon. Drumcree followed him at a distance of
four lengths, with Buffalo Bill third, and the favourite
fourth. The friends of Grudon declared that the horse
"ought to have won" the previous year, but this
"ought to have won" is a phrase which it is usually
well to accept with extreme hesitation. The idea was
that he had got his leg through his reins at one of the
fences and had fallen by no fault of his own.

1901. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE of £i975 I

about 4 m. 856 yds.
Mr. B. Bletsoe's br.h. Grudon, by Old

Back, II y. 10 st. - - - - A. Nightingall i
Mr. 0. J. Williams' b.g. Drumcree, a. 10 st. Mr. H. Nugent 2
Mr. J. E. Rogerson's ch.g. Buffalo Bill,

a. 9 St. 7 lbs. H. Taylor 3

Major J. D. Edwards' Levanter, a. 9 st

10 lbs.

Mr. T. Tunstall-Moore's Fanciful, a. ii st

6 lbs.

Mr. W. H. Pawson's Model, a. 1 1 st. 4 lbs.

F. Mason 4

Mr. W. P. Cullen -
Mr. W. H. Pawson -

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

Capt. E. Loder's Covert Hack, a. 1 1 st, 4 lbs. A. Anthony
Capt. H. H. Johnstone's Cushendun, a.

II St. 2 lbs. Mr. G. Saunders-Davies

Mrs. J. Widger's Sunny Shower, a 10 st.

8 lbs.

Mr. H. Hunt's Prince Tuscan, a. 10 st. 6 lbs.
Mr. R. Davies's Coolgardie, a. 10 st. 6 lbs. -
Mr. W. H. Pawson's The Sapper, a. 10 st.

5 lbs.

Mr. W. W. Lewison's Mayo's Pride, a.

10 St. 5 lbs.

Mr. B. Wade's Hornpool, a. 10 st. 5 lbs. -

Mr. J. T. Widger
Mr. H. Hunt
A. Waddington

W. Halsey

J. PhiUips
E. Acres

Mr. J. Herdman's Greystone H., a. lost, i lb. J. H. Stainton

A. Birch

P. Woodland

Mr. H. M. Ripley -

C. Clack -

Mr. F. Hartigan -

C. Hogan

J. O'Brien
J. Poletti
A. Banner

Mr. A. Gorman's Padishah, a. 10 st.
Mr. V. A. Parnell's True Blue, a. 9 st. 13 lbs
Mr. C. H. Brown's Barsac, a. 9st. 13 lbs. -
Capt. Machell's Chit Chat, a. 10 st. 2 lbs. -
Mr. H. Barnato's Prosset, a. 9 st. 13 lbs. -
Mr. J. Lonsdale's Curagh Hill, a. 9 st. 9 lbs.
Mr. R. C. Dawson's Pawnbroker, a. 9 st.

7 lbs.

Mr. F. Keene's Gossip, 9 st. 7 lbs. -
Mr. F. Bibby's Zodiac, a. 9 st. 7 lbs.

Winner trained by T. Holland.

5/1 agst. Levanter, 100/14 Barsac, 9/1 Grudon, lo/i Covert
Hack, Drumcree, 100/8 Fanciful, The Sapper, 100/6 Pawn-
broker, 20/1 Mayo's Pride, Cushendun, Prosset, 25/1 Chit Chat,
Curagh Hill, 33/1 Prince Tuscan, Buffalo Bill, 40/1 Model,
Coolgardie, 66/1 Hornpool, True Blue, Padishah, lOO/i Sunny
Shower, Greystone H., Gossip, Zodiac.

Place Betting — 9/4 agst. Grudon, 5/2 Drumcree, 8/1 Buffalo
Bill.

Won by 4 lengths, 6 lengths between second and third.
Time 9 m. 47^ sees.

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT, AND CAP

1902

Zodiac was again Mr. Bibby's representative in 1902,
and it must be confessed a forlorn hope, though he had
the bottoni weight, 9 st. 7 lb. It should be observed
incidentally that for a long period lost, was the mini-
mum that a horse could carry in the Liverpool. This
was altered in the year 1894, when the handicap
descended to 9 st. 7 lb. In 1893 Cloister had made so
light of his 12 St. 7 lb. that the authorities decided it was
necessary to make a wider gap between top and bottom
weight, and as to have exceeded 12 st. 7 lb. to any con-
siderable extent was practically out of the question, the
extension had to be made at the other end.

In 1902 Mr. J. S. Morrison's Drumcree started an
equal favourite with Lord Coventry's Inquisitor at 6 to
I. Mr. Finch Mason's interesting volume, "Heroes
and Heroines of the Grand National," is unfortunately
by no means free from mistakes. To speak frankly,
errors are numerous, and one is made in the account of
this event. Drumree, a horse who belonged to the
Duke of Westminster, is muddled up with Drumcree
and quoted as favourite, whereas the Duke's animal
was backed at 10 to i, Mr. C. Atherton Brown's Barsac
intervening at 7 to i. The gallant old Manifesto,
burdened with i2st. 81b., resumed his familiar task,
Piggott in the saddle, and such was the confidence
reposed in him that though he is quoted at 100 to 6, in

SOME UVERPOOLS. INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

the place betting he was absolutely favourite, no more
than 4 to I being obtainable against him. The result
was not exactly a surprise, little as it had been anticipated
by the majority, for the race went to Shannon Lass, a
daughter of Butterscotch and Mazurka, who had gained
a certain amount of reputation over other courses, but
was not generally supposed to stay well enough or to
jump well enough to win a National. The jockey,
D. Read, a capable horseman, was regarded as rather of
the rough and tumble character, and not very likely to
beat the more fashionable riders on well fancied horses.
The mare's victory was nevertheless well received, for
her owner, Mr. Ambrose Gorham, has always been
recognised as a sound sportsman. Mr. Gorham is a
man of various occupations. For a while he made a
book, he was proprietor of the Queen's Hotel at
Brighton, but mainly devoted himself to looking after
the horses which were trained under his supervision at
Telscombe on the downs in the neighbourhood of
Rottingdean, to breeding and preparing greyhounds,
and hunting a cheery little pack of beagles, in addition
to breeding prize cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and
creatures of all descriptions. Shannon Lass, home
trained, Hackett being awarded credit for her perfect
condition, started at 20 to i, and, as the phrase goes,
never having " put a foot wrong," jumped the last fence
in company with Mr. "White-Heather's" Detail,
ridden by Arthur Nightingall, and Mr. John Widger's

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Matthew, W. Morgan up. Detail, apparently very
tired, blundered, and Shannon Lass having a little
reserve of speed which Matthew did not possess, drew
away to win by three lengths. In all her career Shannon
Lass was never touched with whip or spur, and a con-
siderable portion of the produce of her victory was
utilised by her owner in restoring Telscombe Church,
close to his property. Zodiac, it might be added, ridden
by A. Banner, who had piloted him also the previous
year, made a very poor show, being out of the race
before Becher's Brook was reached. Mr. Bibby appears
to have perceived that Zodiac would be suited by
humbler duties than participation in Liverpools. His
name is not found again in the Calendar. He was taken
into the hunt stable, and later presented to that most
gallant soldier and most popular sportsman General Sir
Albert Williams, who, it is pleasant to know, rode him
to hounds with extreme satisfaction.

1902. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE of £2000 (a
handicap) ; about 4 miles 856 yds.

Mr. A. Gorham's b. or br.m. Shannon Lass

by Butterscotch, 7 yrs. 10 st. i lb. - D. Read I

Mr. John Widger's ch.g. Matthew, 6 yrs.

9 St. 12 lbs. W. Morgan 2

Mr. J. G. Bulteel's b.g. Manifesto, 14 yrs.

12 St. 8 lbs. E. Piggott 3

Mr. White-Heather's Detail, 9 st. 9 lbs. - A. Nightingall 4
Mr. T. B. Holmes' Tipperary Boy, 1 1 st.

6 lbs. T. Moran -

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

Duke of Westminster's Drumree, li st.

4 lbs. fell A. Anthony

Lord Cadogan's Lurgan, lO st. 12 lbs. - F. Freemantle -

Mr. J. S. Morrison's Drumcree, lost. 10 lbs. Mr. H. Nugent -

Mr. S. W. Tinsley's Helium, lO st. 10 lbs. - H. Caley

Lord Coventry's Inquisitor, lOst. 9 lbs. fell Mr. A. W. Wood -

Mr. W. H. Pawson's The Sapper, 10 st. 4 lbs. H. Brown -

Mr. J. A. Scorrer's Arnold, lOst. I lb. - T. H. Bissell

Col. W. H. W. Lawson's Dirkhampton, 10 st. Mr. J. Sharpe -

Mr. B. W. Parr's Aunt May, lO st. - - M. Walsh

Lord Denman's Whitehaven, 9 st. 13 lbs. - P. Woodland

Mr. C. A. Brown's Barsac, 9 st. 12 lbs. - F. Mason -

Mr. R. Harding's Steady Glass, 9 st. 8 lbs. Mr. Longworth -

Mr. T. Bates' Fairland, 9 st. 10 lbs. fell H. Taylor

Mr. F. Bibby's Zodiac H., 9 st. 7 lbs. - A. Banner

Mr. Foxhall Keene's Gossip, 9 st. 7 lbs. - H. Hewitt

Mr. F. W. Polehampton's Miss Clifden H.,

9 St. 7 lbs. Mr. H. M. Ripley -

Winner trained by Hackett.

6/1 agst. Drumree, Inquisitor, 7/1 Barsac, lO/i Drumcree,
100/8 Lurgan, Tipperary Boy, 100/6 Manifesto, 20/1 Shannon
Lass, Whitehaven, Aunt May, 25/1 Fairland, Detail, 33/1 Arnold,
40/1 The Sapper, 50/1 Matthew, Miss Clifden II., Helium,
Dirkhampton, loo/i Steady Glass, Zodiac II., Gossip.

Place Betting — 4/1 agst. Manifesto, 5/1 Shannon Lass,
100/8 Matthew.

Won by three lengths, the same between second and third.
Time 10 min. 3 sees.

1903

A much better than the son of Astrologer was
meantime beginning to attract attention, or rather it
should be said had for some time past been doing so in

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

unobtrusive fashion. This was Kirldand, a son of
Kirkham, one of two horses who had been sent over
from Australia by a famous Colonial breeder and owner,
Mr. J. White. They arrived in this country as two-
year-olds, if my memory serves me, it being Mr.
White's ambition to win the Derby next year. It soon
appeared that they were quite unable to cope with the
better class of English-bred horses, but Kirkham was
sent to the stud, and if he did not much distinguish
himself there, produced Kirkland from an unknown
mare by Perigonius. I can find no record of Kirkland
running on the flat, but as a four-year-old in March,
1900, he came out for the Stewards' Plate at Kilmallock,
one of five runners, and, backed at 4 to i, started his
career by a three length victory. The race was a small
one, worth ^22 los., but it was beginning in the right
way. Moreover, he repeated his success in a Stewards'
Plate, worth a sovereign less, at Croom, though he was
not awarded this modest prize until after an objection
had been decided. An animal called Granagh came in
first, but was disqualified.

Mr. Bibby heard that there was a promising young
one for sale, and Colonel Lort-Phillips went over to
Ireland to have a look at him, the result being that
Kirkland was acquired for the moderate price of 450
guineas.

It was soon found that an excellent bargain had been
obtained. At that time Mr. Bibby was one of the

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

principal supporters of a number of minor meetings in
the West of England, at Tenby, Cardiff, Carmarthen
and similar gatherings. Kirkland's first appearance in
England, however, was a higher flight. He was sent
to Hooton Park in October to run for the Great Autumn
Steeplechase, and though he did not win it he came
near to doing so. There were just a dozen starters, the
favourite, a useful six-year-old named Easter Ogue, a
son of that famous sire of 'chasers Ascetic, ridden by
Escott, the Lewes trainer. Three other runners were
much fancied, Bonnie Dundee, Rose O'Neill with Mason
in the saddle, and Alpheus. Kirkland and Easter Ogue
both carried lost. 7 lb., and taking into consideration
weight for age, Easter Ogue had some 1 6 lb. the better
of the weights. Kirkland, however, ran second to
Bonnie Dundee, 10 st. 12 lb., beaten three lengths, with
Easter Ogue twice as far behind him.

This was a decidedly promising start, as was recog-
nised when the horse reappeared at Cardiff some ten days
afterwards, for odds of 5 to 4 were laid on him ; unsuc-
cessfully, however, as he could only finish third to Boa and
Athelwolf. The latter was ridden by a skilful amateur,
Mr. H. S. Sidney, who was afterwards killed in pursuit
of his favourite sport. This was of course one of
many occasions on which Mr. Sidney had opportunities
of studying Kirkland's pretensions, and the conclusion
at which he arrived was that Kirkland was " the worst
steeplechase horse in England ! " How far he was from
u 49

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

the mark was frequently demonstrated, and though no
doubt Kirkland was one of the chosen few who are
vastly better over the big Aintree fences than anywhere
else, it will be seen that the horse was able to disprove
his critic's conclusion over other tracks.

As a five-year-old Kirkland started the season at
Tenby, where he won the Deer Park Open Hunt
Steeplechase by twenty lengths, Mr. Bibby having, it
may be noted, taken the previous event with Zodiac.
Kirkland then made his first essay over hurdles at the
Carmarthenshire Hunt Meeting, where he won without
difficulty, and in the following March, the day after
Grudon's National, he went to the post at Liverpool for
the Stanley Five-Year-Old Steeplechase. There had
naturally been great curiosity to see how he would shape
over the Aintree fences, and that they were not supposed
to be beyond his powers is shown by the fact that no
more than 5 to i was to be had about him. Though
he did not win, or indeed come very near to winning,
he gratified his owner by standing up and finishing.
The market fairly well foreshadowed the result :
Drumree, an even money favourite, won from a second
favourite in Lurgan. Kirkland was third favourite, and
came in fourth. Mr. Sidney on Gangbridge beat him
for the Welsh Grand National, and though it was some
time before Kirkland again got his head in front, he
contradicted Mr. Sidney's estimate by running second
at Birmingham, Mr. Sidney again on the winner Cavill,

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

and narrowly failing at Nottingham, before he resumed
his successful career at Cardiff, where he won each after-
noon of the meeting. Next at Warwick he won the
Autumn Handicap Steeplechase, the favourite here being
a good steeplechase horse named Dearslayer, ridden by
Frank Hartigan, backed at 2 to i ; but he could only
get third to the bearer of the green and yellow jacket.
Kirkland wound up the year by a visit to Leicester,
where there was an interesting fight for the Belvoir
Steeplechase. Mr. Bibby's horse was favourite at 5 to
4, Castleknock — in receipt of 3 lb. — ridden by Mr.
Persse, the present Stockbridge trainer, almost on the
same mark, backed at 6 to 4, and the two ran a dead
heat.

As a six-year-old Kirkland was not kept very busy.
He led off by running second, beaten a neck, for a hurdle
race at Tenby, failed to justify his favouritism in the War-
wick Handicap Steeplechase on the day when Mr. Persse
took the National Hunt Chase on Marpessa, and after
an outing at Manchester on the first of April, where he
was third for the Easter Handicap Steeplechase, nothing
more was seen of him till November, when he gave
strong support to the belief that it was no exaggeration
to regard him as a real Liverpool horse. For the Grand
Sefton Steeplechase that November Venetian Monk, a
six-year-old who had enjoyed a remarkably brilliant
career in Ireland, started favourite, ridden by Mr. J. W.
Widger, who had carried off the Liverpool of 1895 on

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT, AND CAP

Wild Man From Borneo. Prior to his appearance at
Liverpool Venetian Monk had run up a score of nine
races, and he seemed by no means overburdened with
lost. 1 1 lb. His most formidable opponent was sup-
posed to be the Ascetic gelding Hill of Bree, and others
greatly fancied with good reason were Thomondgate,
Delivery, Detail, and old Manifesto, burdened as the
last-named was with I2 st. I2 lb. Pride of Mabestown,
ridden by that fine horseman Percy Woodland, and
Atty's Pride, Arthur Nightingall up, also had friends.
Kirkland is not mentioned by name in the betting. He
was one of the " loo to 7 others," but in the hands of
F. Mason he won in a canter by eight lengths from
Manifesto. This was a triumph, and at least showed
that hopes of a National victory were not unreasonable.
As a seven-year-old the Liverpool was of course
Kirkland's objective. Prior to the great race he was
only out once, for the Bushey Handicap Steeplechase at
Hurst Park. A month later the Liverpool Spring
Meeting was due, and he arrived fit and well to oppose
a number of animals whose names have been mentioned
in the last few pages. Drumcree early in the month had
won the Liverpool Trial Steeplechase at Sandown Park,
having previously taken another three mile 'chase on the
same course, and likewise a previous one at Windsor.
In this last he had been followed home by Kozak,
ridden by the present General R. C. de Crespigny,
whose father. Sir Claude, was another competitor. It

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

always greatly pleased the old sporting Baronet to have
a mount in races in which his sons rode. At Liverpool
Drumcree was a slightly better favourite than Detail,
the two having every possible advantage of jockeyship,
as Percy Woodland and Arthur Nightingall were on
their backs respectively. The odds were 13 to 2 and
100 to 14, whilst 10 to I was to be had about Pride of
Mabestown, Aunt May and Matthew, 100 to 8 against
Kirkland, 100 to 6 against King Edward's Ambush II.,
Fanciful and Inquisitor.

I was about to say in almost every race of any
importance one hears after the event of some horse who
" ought to have won." Perhaps I may be slightly
exaggerating when I say " in almost every race," but
really I am not sure whether the remark is not justified ;
at any rate it is safe to say in a very large proportion of
races this is the case. Mr. G. W. Lushington, known
to his friends as " Tommy," who trained King Edward's
steeplechase horses in Ireland and had sold Ambush II.
to His Majesty, maintained to the end of his life that
the winner of 1900 ought to have repeated his victory
three years later. When in the year 191 1 I was com-
piling a work entitled "King Edward VII. as a Sports-
man," Tommy Lushington gave me his generous
assistance, which was, of course, invaluable, as he was
the one person who knew all about King Edward's
jumpers.

His contention was that Ambush II. had prac-

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

tically won his race as the few survivors of the field
of three and twenty approached the last fence. The
horse was artful as a monkey, however. Seeing a gap
he swerved and made for it, with the result that he took
off sideways and rolled over on landing. Had it not
been for this. Tommy steadfastly maintained that
Ambush II. would always have ranked with Cloister,
Manifesto and subsequently Jerry M., all of whom did
what at one time had been deemed impossible — won the
Liverpool with 1 2 st. 7 lb. My old friend Cushendun
was no longer in my charge, and though only eight
years old, often the prime of life for a steeplechase horse,
had undoubtedly deteriorated. But it is quite possible
that the just-quoted expression "ought to have won"
might properly be applied to Lord Coventry's Inquisitor.
This horse was trained by his owner's son, the then
Captain Charles Coventry, who was subsequently taken
prisoner by the Turks and is in captivity — a multitude
of friends hope not in intolerable circumstances — at the
time of writing.

One hates to retail suspicions about horses having
been " got at," but Lord Coventry is most assuredly
too generous and high-minded to entertain suspicion
without a cause, and he has told me that he is convinced
all was not well with Inquisitor when he went to the
post. If I remember aright, there had been some
trouble about the jockey of Drumcree. Sir Charles
Nugent's son, Hugh, afterwards, unhappily, killed when

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

riding at Ostend, was quite a competent amateur, and
had indeed won races against the best professional
jockeys. He was not, however, the ideal horseman who
would have been chosen had choice been unlimited, and
finally it was decided to put up Percy Woodland, who
was undoubtedly quite in the first rank in England and
France alike ; for much of his work had been done on
the other side of the Channel. Manifesto's weight had
been slightly reduced. When third to Shannon Lass
he had carried i2st. 8 lb., now he had i2st. 3 lb., the
fact of his being fifteen years of age having been taken
into consideration, but as much as 25 to i was on offer
against him.

The Duke of Westminster's Drumree not very far
from home fell heavily on the flat. I am not aware of
the cause of this mishap ; it was attributed by some
to his having been attacked by a fit of the staggers.
A foolish member of the House of Commons, a
Mr. Lough, who, I fancy, represented Islington at
that time, conceived the idea that the horse was
dead, a victim of the remorseless cruelty of owner
and jockey, and he asked a question in the House of
Commons about it ; but at the time when the question
was put Drumree, far from being a corpse, was gaily
striding out on his training ground and requiring a good
deal of holding. Drumcree did not win as easily as had
seemed likely just before the last fence was reached.
Mr. White-Heather's Detail, who never did much else-

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

where, but was suited by the severe course, skilfully
handled by Arthur Nightingall, made a vigorous effort
after landing on the race course. His pull of 1 8 lb. in
the weights, for he only carried 9 st. 131b., was a vast
assistance, but Percy Woodland had been on the watch
for eventualities and drawing away won by three lengths.
A long way behind, at a distance which the Judge esti-
mated as twenty lengths, Manifesto and Kirkland were
engaged in a vigorous struggle for third place, and the
old horse got the better of Mr. Bibby's representative
by a short head. So said the judge, whose decision
" goes." Mason always maintains that he was third.
It is probable that if four jockeys had been selected as
likeliest to fill the first four places, those who did so
would have been generally chosen, Percy Woodland,
Arthur Nightingall, George Williamson and F. Mason.
King Edward was present and, one may assume, experi-
enced some disappointment at the result, for Tommy
Lushington must have inspired His Majesty with strong
hopes of victory.

1903. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap) of
£2525 (including a trophy value £105) ; Grand National
Course, 4 miles 856 yards.
Mr. J. S. Morrison's Drumcree, by Ascetic,

a. list. 3 lbs. P. Woodland i

Mr. White- Heather's Detail, a. 9 st. 13 lbs. A. Nightingall 2
Mr. J. G. Bulteel's Manifesto, a. 1 2 st. 3 lbs. Williamson 3

Mr. F. Bibby's Kirkland, a. 10 st. 8 lbs. - F. Mason 4

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

His Majesty's Ambush II., a. 12 St. 7 lbs. fell Anthony
Mr. H. Tunstall-Moore's Fanciful, a. li st.

7 lbs. Mr. W. P. Cullen -

Duke of Westminster's Drumree, a. 1 1 st.

4 lbs. J. Phillips

Lord Coventry's Inquisitor, a. lOst. 13 lbs.

fell Matthews -

Mr. T. Eater's Fairland, a. lOst. 13 lbs. fell W. Morgan
Major Eustace Loder's Marpessa, 6 yrs.

lost. nibs. .... fell Mr. Persse
Mr. J. G. Bulteel's Dearslayer, a.

lost. nibs. .... fell E. Pigott

Mr. H. Bottomley's Cushendun, a. 10 st.

10 lbs. fell Cole

Mr. J. R. Cooper's Kilmallog, 6 yrs.

10 St. 9 lbs. fell Moran

Mr. 0. J. Williams' The Pride of Mabes-

town, a. 10 St. 8 lbs. - - - fell Dollery
Mr. W. Nelson's Patlander, a. lO st. 7 lbs. fell M. Walsh
Mr. John Widger's Matthew, a. 10 st.

7 lbs. fell Mr. J. W. Widger -

Mr. W. Haven's Expert II., 6 yrs. 10 st.

5 lbs. fell S. Woodland

Mr. B. W. Parr's Aunt May, a. 10 st. - fell D. Read
Mr. J. Meleady's Benvenir, a. 9 st. 12 lbs. Mr. Hayes
Mr. B. W. Parr's Orange Pat, a. 9 st. 10 lbs.

fell R. Morgan -

Mr. R. C. Dawson's Pawnbroker, a. 9 st. 9 lbs. O'Brien
Mr. G. C. Dobell's Saxilby, 6 yrs. 9 st.

7 lbs. fell Goswell -

Mr. CD. Barrow's GilHe II., a 9 St. 7 lbs. fell A. Wilkins

Winner trained by Sir Chas. Nugent.

13/2 agst. Drumcree, 100/14 Detail, lo/l The Pride of Mabes-
town, Aunt May, Matthew, 100/8 Kirkland, 100/6 Ambush II.,

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Fanciful, Inquisitor, 20/1 Marpessa, Fairland, Killmallog,
25/1 Manifesto, Drumree, Dearslayer, 40/1 Patlander, Expert II.,
Orange Pat, 50/1 Saxilby, loo/i Cushendun, Pawnbroker,
Benvenir, Gillie 11.

Won by 3 lengths, twenty lengths between second and third,
and a head between third and fourth. Drumree did not com-
plete the course.

Time, 10 min. 9| sees.

1904

One of Mr. Bibby's Liverpool horses, Comfit, came
on the scene this year, when, however, he was a five-
year-old, an age at which comparatively few animals
have essayed Liverpool honours. I reserve references
to him, and proceed to deal with the Liverpool of 1904,
in which Mr. Bibby came so near to accomplishing the
object of his ambition. At this period there can be no
harm in remarking the National Handicap was the result
of consultations between Mr. E. A. C. Topham and
Mr. Reggie Mainwaring. Each allotted weights and
on a given day posted his compilation to the other.
It happened that I used to see a good deal of Reggie
Mainwaring in those days, for we met frequently at the
Junior Carlton Club, and I often stayed with him for
Newmarket Meetings at his residence, Mesnil Warren,
the house now occupied by Mr. George Lambton.
Perhaps I may add that I sometimes published an opinion
of what the handicap would be in the " Illustrated
Sporting and Dramatic News." It seems to be generally
agreed that a rise of a couple of pounds, from lost. 8 lb.

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

to lo St. lolb., was a fair way of dealino- with Kirkland.
Ambush II. was dropped i lb., which appeared to show
that the handicappers had summed up the situation with
a good deal of accuracy : they had to recognise that he
had not won, but at the same time he was probably
unlucky not to have done so. The previous year's
winner did not reach the post. I forget why, but
imagine he must have broken down, as he had been out
for the Liverpool Trial Handicap Steeplechase at San-
down early in the month. Detail's second accounted
for an addition of 8 lb. to his burden, from 9 st. 131b..
to 10 St. 7 lb. There were in all six and twenty starters,
Ambush II. a strong favourite at 7 to 2, which cannot
be regarded as anything^ like a fair price in a Liverpool,
for the reason that it is usually a shade of odds against
any horse completing the distance safely.

Inquisitor led over the first fence, where mishaps
began, though the falling of Railoff can scarcely have
affected the result. But a more important disaster was
impending, for at the third fence the Royal colours, worn
by A. Anthony, were brought down, Dearslayer, who
was supposed to have an outside chance, also falling.
The field, indeed, was speedily thinned. At the fourth
fence my old friends Cushendun and Inquisitor both
toppled over, and at the jump before Becher's Brook no
fewer than five came to grief — Patlander, Hill of Bree,
Comfit, to whom reference has just been made, Kiora
and Loch Lomond, the latter breaking his neck.

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Before the start little attention had been paid to a big,
raw-boned, rather clumsily-shaped Colonial importation,
who was identified as Moifaa, carrying a black, white-
sleeved jacket, with red cap, not altogether unfamiliar
on English race courses, as Mr. Spencer Gollan, their
owner, had won a number of races, sometimes being
himself in the saddle. Mr. Gollan, indeed, had
thoroughly established his reputation as an admirable
all-round sportsman. He had ridden a number of
winners in New Zealand and Australia before coming to
England, where his ancestors had held high rank in
Church and State. He was an excellent cricketer, an
accomplished golfer, an extremely awkward opponent
with the gloves, and an exceptionally efficient oarsman.
I think it was a little later than this that he set out to
row in a four-oared boat with three professional water-
men from Oxford to London, and was the only one of
the crew really to last through the fatiguing journey.
I used to meet Mr. Gollan when he was staying with
our friend Mr. Arthur Yates at Alresford, one of the
cheery company of guests who used to disport them-
selves over the fences where so many good — and bad —
horsemen learnt to ride. Moifaa had been out several
times before his Liverpool expedition without much
distinguishing himself. At Aintree he started at 25 to
I, his owner having an idea that he might with luck get
over the jumps but that he was not very likely to win
if it came to a question of speed, indeed, it may be said

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

that he was very little fancied. His weight, lo st. 7 lb.,
was considered reasonable enough, and a good jockey
was secured to ride him in Arthur Birch, who afterwards
met with what finally proved to have been a fatal
accident when riding in a steeplechase at Gatwick.

When the first circuit of the course had been com-
pleted Moifaa was observed to be in front, striding along
with little dash but a good deal of vigour, and evidently
not at all inconvenienced by the size of the fences. Away
in the country it looked as if Detail might be going to
make amends for his failure of the previous season, but
at the fence before Valentine's Brook Ambush II., who
had been careering about on his own account without a
jockey, knocked the unfortunate Detail head over heels.
An outsider who seemed to have a good chance as the
horses neared home was Pride of Mabestown, a son of
the extraordinarily successful sire of jumpers. Ascetic,
ridden by a skilful expert, Mr. A. Gordon. He fell
vtwo fences from home, and then the way was cleared for
the big Colonial — he stood over 17 hands high. The
verdict in his favour was eight lengths, and behind him
was a great fight for second place between Kirkland and
an Irish seven-year-old. The Gunner, ridden by Mr.
J. W. Widger, who, as previously noted, had carried
off the great race in 1895 on Wild Man from Borneo.
Kirkland led the other by a neck, which was extra-
ordinary in the circumstances, for Mason was not fit to
ride, and really ought not to have taken the mount.

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Of the six and twenty starters only nine completed the
course, old Manifesto, now in his sixteenth year, being
one of them. So far as I am aware this is a Liverpool
record in the matter of age. Accounts of the race state
briefly that "seventeen fell." It may be that one or
two of them refused, but at any rate the story of this
race goes far to show what competing in a Liverpool
means !

I may now revert to Comfit, a son of Butterscotch
dam by Clan Ronald, who, like so many other of Mr.
Bibby's horses, was purchased in Ireland — for the trifle
of ;^I25 — and at once on his arrival in England gave
the most convincing evidence that his acquisition had
been wise. His first attempt was in the National Hunt
Steeplechase at Warwick in 1903, an event to which
detailed reference is made on subsequent pages. For
this National Hunt Steeplechase of 1903 Connaught,
son of that good 'chaser Royal Meath, was favourite,
ridden by Mr. H. S. Persse, who has since gained fame
as the trainer of the Tetrarch and numerous other not-
able winners. Several other animals were fancied, but
Comfit, whose name does not appear in the betting,
cantered home eight lengths in front of his field, ridden
by Captain R. H. Collis, who was afterwards to be
closely associated with Mr. Bibby's horses.

Comfit did not reappear for some eight months,
coming out again for the Grand Sefton Steeplechase,
which that season went to Leinster. Comfit was

SOME LIVERPOOLS. INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

primarily a Liverpool horse, though on this occasion he
failed to make much show, and it was at Warwick again,
in the Handicap Steeplechase, that he came to the front
for the second time, prior to his first essay in the
National, where he wore Mr. Bibby's second colours.
Frank Hartigan, who rode him, declares that he jumped
so big at each of the four or five fences he encountered
before he fell that any one jump would just about have
cleared the whole lot put together! In such a race as
the Liverpool the actual return of the betting often
signifies little, except in the case of those chiefly in
request. Thus, Comfit was one of four who started at
22 to I, and there were likewise four who started at
25 to I ; but many of their backers doubtless took very
much shorter odds, and quite possibly a few had found
bookmakers to lay longer ones. What it meant was that
Comfit was deemed likely tO' get over the course if luck
with with him, and though not expected to win, might
conceivably do so.

1904. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)
of £2525 (inc. a trophy value £106) ; Grand National
Course, about 4 miles 856 yds.
Mr. Spencer Gollan's Moifaa, by Natator,

a. ID St. 7 lbs. Birch i

Mr. F. Bibby's Kirkland, a. 10 st. 10 lbs. - F. Mason 2

Mr. John Widger's The Gunner, a.

10 St. 4 lbs. Mr. J. W. Widger 3

Major J. D. Edwards' Shaun Aboo, 6 yrs.

10 St. 1 lb. Waddington 4

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT, AND CAP

His Majesty's Ambush II., a. 12 st. 6 lbs. fell Anthony-
Mr. J. G. Bulteel's Manifesto, a. 12 st. i lb. E. Piggott
Mr. O. J. Williams' The Pride of Mabes-

town, a. II St. - - - - fell Mr. A. Gordon
Lord Coventry's Inquisitor, a. 10 st. 11 lb. fell Acres
Mr. W. E. Nelson's Patlander, a. 10 st. 10 lbs.

fell Matthews
Prince Hatzfeldt's Dearslayer, a. 10 st. 10 lbs.

fell PhiUips
Mr. White-Heather's Detail, a. 10 st, 7 lbs. A. Nightingall
Mr. H. Bottomley's Cushendun, a. 10 st. 7 lbs.

fell D. Morris
Mr. A. Buckley's (Jr.) Knight of St.

Patrick, a. 10 st. 6 lbs. - - fell E. Walsh

Mr. W. J. Compton's May King, a. lO st. 5 lbs.

fell Dollery
Mr. F. Bibby's Comfit, 6 yrs. 10 st. 4 lbs.

(car. 10 St. 5 lbs.) - - - fell F. Hartigan

Mr. Hall Walker's Hill of Bree, a. 10 st. 4 lbs.

fell Goswell
Capt. Scott's Kiora, a. 10 st. 3 lbs. - fell M'Guire
Mr. E. E. Lennon's Robin Hood IV., 6 yrs.

10 St. 3 lbs. Magee

Mr. H. Bottomley's Biology, a. lost, i lb. fell D. Read
Capt. Michael Hughes' Band of Hope, a.

10 St. Cowley

Mr. M. Crowther's Nahillah, a. 9 st. 1 1 lbs. - Mr. A. Wood
Mr. W. N. W. Gape's Benvenir, a. 9 st. 10 lbs. P. Woodland
Mr. F. H. Wise's Loch Lomond, 6 yrs.

9 St. 10 lbs. fell F. Freemantle

Mr. H. K. Hamilton Wedderburn's Railoff,

a. 9 St. 9 lbs, .... fell Sullivan

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

Comte de Madre's Oldtown, a. 9 st. 8 lbs. fell Mr. H. M. Ripley -
Mr. Barclay Walker's Honeyman II., a.

9 St. 7 lbs. fell Lynn -

Winner trained by Hickey.

7/2 agst. Ambush II., 7/1 Patlander, 100/14 Detail, 9/1 In-
quisitor, 100/7 Kirkland, 20/1 Benvenir, Manifesto, 25/1 May
King, Moifaa, Dearslayer, The Gunner, Comfit, 33/1 Biology,
Robin Hood IV., Hill of Bree, 40/1 Band of Hope, Kiora,
50/1 Honeymoon II., 66/1 The Pride of Mabestown, Loch
Lomond.

Won by 8 lengths, neck between second and third. Time,
9 min. 58 1 sees.

1905

Kirkland had marked himselF out as a highly probable
winner, for the history of Nationals shows how fre-
quently horses who have run into places have subse-
quently won — or on other occasions after one victory
have come near to achieving a second. Besides the cases
of Frigate and Cloister mentioned on a former page
I might have named Roquefort who started his
National career by finishing third to Voluptuary, and
the following Spring came to the front. Why Not,
second in 1889, tried his luck in 1891, was third in
1893, and justified his favouritism in 1894. Wild Man
from Borneo, the winner in 1895, had been third the
previous season, and a number of other instances might
be quoted.

After his second in 1904 Kirkland made two appear-
ances that year. He ran in the great Cheshire Steeple-
E 65

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

chase, a thousand pound race, with somewhat curious
conditions : horses might be entered to be sold for jCs^
which of course enabled them to take an allowance, and
an animal named St. Moritz, who did so, and was subse-
quently bought in for 700 guineas, beat Kirkland by
twenty lengths. It cannot be said that this justified Mr.
Sydney's criticism of the horse, but at least it showed
running two miles and a half over easy fences was not
Kirkland's game. This Hooton Park race came only
three weeks after the Liverpool, which is an excuse for
Kirkland, as it has continually appeared that animals
who have undergone a Liverpool preparation and the
exertion of the race are of little good for months
afterwards.

There are admittedly exceptions to this rule.
Eremon, for instance, went on from Liverpool to win
the great Lancashire Steeplechase at Manchester, and he
is not quite the only one on whom the Aintree contest
left little effect, but I am nevertheless inclined to speak
of the defeats of Liverpool horses during the following
weeks as being the rule. Kirkland, however, was con-
sidered fit and well enough to be brought out only a
week after his Hooton essay at Sandown in the Grand
International Steeplechase. Mason was his constant
jockey, Mr. Bibby having first claim on that accom-
plished horseman's services. No more than 2 to i
was to be had about him, though his weight was only
1 1 St. I lb., but he could get no nearer than sixth in a

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

field which can scarcely be said to have comprised horses
of much class. He was not seen again until the great
event.

In 1905 Kirkland reappeared at the end of February,
a ridiculously easy task being set him. He had
one opponent, an extremely moderate animal named
Spineret, in a little steeplechase at Ludlow, and he
naturally ran away with it. His next appearance was
at Aintree. Under the care of Colonel Lort-Phillips he
had continued in the right way, and judging from the
market, the general impression about him was that, good
luck being understood, he was the likeliest to win if he
could beat Moifaa. King Edward had been so much
struck by the Colonial horse's performance that. Lord
Marcus Beresford supporting the opinion if indeed he
did not originate it, Moifaa had passed into the
possession of His Majesty.

His weight had been raised from 10 st. 7 lb. to
II St. 1 2 lb., an increase of 191b., but he was neverthe-
less a strong favourite at 4 to i , Dollery, who had ridden
Cloister to victory, in the saddle, a late engagement, for
on the morning of the race George Williamson, who
was to have worn the Royal colours, was kicked whilst
at exercise, being incapacitated, and a telegram to Birch,
who had ridden the New Zealander the previous year, was
too late to enable the jockey to arrive. Dollery, who had
been without a mount, was therefore secured. Kirkland
was backed at 6 to i, pressed in the market by an animal

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

called Ranunculus, who was worthy of the respect in
which he was held and seemed to have been very favour-
ably treated with only 9 st. 12 lb, to carry. Ranunculus
had won a race at Haydock Park only a week before,
following on another at Birmingham only a few days
previously to that, and as it was declared that the further
he went the more he liked it, as also that the fences
would precisely suit him, his position was readily com-
prehensible. Kirkland had gone up 9 lb. in the handi-
cap, from lost. 10 lb. to list. 5 lb., which must be
esteemed on the whole fair treatment.

As usually happens, trouble began early in the race.
The second fence brought down Royal Drake, who was
supposed to have a chance, together with three others,
Kiora, Hallgate and Ascetic's Silver, and at the next
obstacle Longthorpe and Nereus refused. Moifaa,
jumping boldly in the hands of his new jockey, raced
away at the head of affairs in company with an animal
called Timothy Titus who year after year greatly
flattered his friends. They led over Valentine's Brook,
where Detail and Biology, the former a good deal
fancied, came to grief. To ride Ranunculus a French
jockey, that is to say a jockey from France, unused to
English courses, Hollebone by name, had been brought
over, and though there would be no justification for
saying that with a more skilled pilot Ranunculus would
have won, it is tolerably certain that in more efficient
hands he would at least have made a better show ; for

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

Hollebone seemed to have no definite plan of campaign
and allowed his mount to meander about the course.
He led over the water opposite the Stand with Timothy
Titus in close attendance, Moifaa still holding a good
place and clearing the fences in unimpeachable style.

Before reaching Becher's Brook, Miss Clifden II. and
Dearslayer had fallen. The Actuary and Matthew had
been pulled up, and here Moifaa overjumped himself —
so far as could be made out — and came down. Before
Valentine's Brook was reached, Timothy Titus,
Boucheron, who had been sent over from France to run,
and Aunt May, ridden by Mr. "Atty" Persse, had all
toppled over, and Ranunculus was still in front till at
the Anchor Bridge Kirkland deprived him of the lead.
Here Mason's skilful jockeyship asserted itself.
Ascetic's Silver, galloping along riderless, crossed Kirk-
land and was apparently in imminent danger of knock-
ing him over ; but Mason avoided the catastrophe.

Meanwhile Napper Tandy, ridden by Percy Wood-
land, had come upon the scene, with so much go in him
that he distinctly threatened danger, but drawing away
after jumping the last fence, Kirkland won by three
lengths. Another unconsidered animal, Buckaway II.,
following on at an interval of four lengths, only just beat-
ing Ranunculus for third place. The victory of Kirkland
was very cordially received, as indeed the victories of
favourites usually are in the great races, seeing it means
that a great many men have won their money, but it is

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

fair to assume that the cheers were also meant as a
congratulatory tribute to an owner who was recognised
as a staunch supporter of 'chasing, and whose sporting
policy was warmly appreciated.

Though Kirkland was only nine years old and it
seemed natural to expect other successes from him he
never won again ; but he was still to make a stir in
the world after a long interval. From the March of
1905 until the February of the following year nothing
was seen of him, and then the exhibition was not
encouraging. He was one of three starters for an Open
Steeplechase at Hurst Park with odds of 100 to 7
against him, 6 to 4 being laid on a remarkable jumper
named John M.P., 7 to 4 against a good animal named
Desert Chief, the favourite winning by thirty lengths,
with Kirkland a bad third. He remained in training
but could not be produced again until the January 1907,
when he tried his luck without success in a little ;6^40
hurdle race at Tenby, for which he was an indifferent
third. He was beaten off behind Holy War, Judas and
Timothy Titus at Kempton, did better at Leicester a
few weeks afterwards, for he ran second, in a very minor
event, however, the Thurmaston Steeplechase, Lara
beating him four lengths at evens. We shall presently
find him again in active service.

SOME LIVERPOOLS. INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

1905. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)
of £2550 (inc. a trophy value £100) ; Grand National
Course, about 4 miles 856 yds.

Mr. F. Bibby's Kirkland, by Kirkham,

a 1 1 St. 5 lbs. F. Mason

Capt. M'Laren's Napper Tandy, a. 10 st. - P. Woodland
Mr. P. E. Speakman's Buckaway H.,

9 St. II lbs.

Mr. T. Nolan's Ranunculus, a. 9 st. 12 lbs.
Mr. D. Faber's Hercules H., a. 9 st. 10 lbs.
His Majesty's Moifaa, a. 1 1 st. 12 lbs. fell
Col. H. T. Fenwick's Phil May, 6 yrs.

II St. fell

Mr. Leslie Rome's The Actuary, a. 10 st. 9 lbs. Matthews
Mr. B. W. Parr's Aunt May, a. 10 st. 9 lbs. fell Sullivan
Mr. W. Bass' Matthew, a. 10 st. 8 lbs.
Mr. White-Heather's Detail, a. 10 st. 6 lbs.

(car. 10 St. 8 lbs.) - - - fell

Prince Hatzfeldt's Dearslayer, a. 10 st.

8 lbs. fell

Lord Sefton's Longthorpe, a. 10 st. 7 lbs. -
Mr. Cotton's Seahorse H., a. 10 st. 7 lbs. -
Count de Songeon's Bucheron, a. 10 st. 6 lbs

(inc. 4 lbs. ex.) .... fell
Mr. W. B. Partridge's Timothy Titus,

a. 10 St. 5 lbs. .... fell E. Morgan -

Mr. P. J. Dunn's Ascetic's Silver, a.

10 St. 5 lbs. fell Dunn -

Mr. W. H. Pawson's Kiora, a. 9 st. 11 lbs.

(car. 10 St. 5 lbs.) - - - fell Owner -

Sir P. Walker's Royal Drake, a. 10 st. 4 lbs. fell Waddington -
Mr. H. Bottomley's Biology, a. 10 st. 2 lbs. fell H. Woodland
Mr. H. B. Black's What Next, a. 10 st.

(car. 10 St. 2 lbs.) .... Capt. Rasbotham -

Newey
HoIIebone
J. Dillon
DoUery

R. Morgan

W. Morgan -

Cowley -

Mr. A. Hastings -

Freemantle

J. O'Brien

U. David

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. D. Faber's Miss Clifden II., a 9 st. 13 lbs.

(inc. 6 lbs. ex.) .... fell Barter -

Mr, G. C. Dobell's Saxilby, a. 9 st. 12 lbs. - Heaney -

Mr. W. M. G. Singer's Band of Hope, a.

9 St. II lbs. Donnelly

Mr. C. Levy's Cottenshope, a. 9 st. 1 1 lbs. D. Morris -

Mr. C. Bower Ismay's Nereus, a. 9st. lolbs. Goswell -

Mr. Delagarde's Hallgate, a. 9 st. 7 lbs. fell A. Cole -

Winner trained by Thomas.

4/1 agst. Moifaa, 6/1 Kirkland, 7/1 Ranunculus, 100/8 Aunt
May, 100/7 Detail, 100/6 Dearslayer, Timothy Titus, 20/1 Phil
May, Seahorse II., Royal Drake, Ascetic's Silver, 25/1 Napper
Tandy, 33/1 Hercules II., Longthorpe, 40/1 Biology, 50/1 What
Next, 66/1 Cottenshope, The Actuary, Nereus, Matthew,
Saxilby, lOO/i Kiora, Miss Clifden II., Bucheron, Buckaway If.,
Hallgate, Band of Hope.

Won by 3 lengths, 4 lengths second and third.

Time, 9 min. 48 1 sees.

1906

In 1906 Mr. Bibby's representative was Comfit. He
had been off colour in the season 1904- 1905, not having
been out since running for an ordinary ;^ioo Handicap
at Kempton in February till he reappeared in December
and won the Winter 'Chase at Gatwick, very unex-
pectedly, as he was the outsider of the little party, and
moreover two miles on a Park course was not his metier.
This sort of thing may have the effect of sharpening up
a Liverpool horse, which is desirable as far as that goes,
though on the other hand, gliding through the tops of
Park course fences is not a particularly healthy prepara-

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

tion for the stiff jumps at Aintree. This has constituted
an annual puzzle for trainers. A certain amount of
public schooling is no doubt an excellent thing, but there
are few meetings at which this schooling may not have a
tendency to teach Liverpool horses the mischievous trick
of chancing their fences. Comfit, however, having won
his race as aforesaid, came out at Kempton Park early in
February for the ^6500 Coventry Handicap Steeple
Chase, in which he encountered that remarkable animal
John M.P. Something about Mr. J. S. Morrison's
horse may here be interpolated. The son of Britannic
and Guiding Star had proved himself useful over fences
and hurdles as a five-year-old. He had, indeed, run
second for the valuable Lancashire Handicap Steeple-
chase, beaten a neck by Lord James to whom he was
giving a stone. Subsequently to that he ran in a hurdle
race at Sandown, but from the 23rd April, 1904, to the
5th January, 1906, he was an absentee. When he came
out for the Eton Handicap Hurdle Race at Windsor on
the latter date no idea was generally entertained that he
could have a chance. Odds of 100 to i were actually
on offer against him ; and he comfortably beat an even
money favourite, Sir Samuel Scott's Series, by a couple
of lengths. During his withdrawal Sir Charles Nugent
had performed intricate operations on the horse — I
forget for how long Sir Charles has told me he kept the
patient under chloroform.

But it appeared that John M.P. was better than ever,

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT. AND CAP

A month later he beat Comfit as aforesaid, giving him
moreover i61b. and winning in a canter by ten lengths.
At Hurst Park a fortnight afterwards as already noted he
ran away from Desert Chief and Kirkland. At Sandown
he won the Liverpool Trial 'Chase at his ease, and some
fortnight prior to the Liverpool an Open 'Chase at
Hurst Park. His friends declared that he was just as
good over four miles and a half with all the big fences as
over a galloping course of two miles with little to jump,
the consequence being that no more than 7 to 2 was on
offer against him for the Liverpool, unjustifiable odds,
for as a matter of fact it is quite 7 to 2 against any
horse getting safely round the two circuits of the course.
Comfit, ridden by F. Mason, shared second favouritism
with Phil May and Timothy Titus, the last named a
well bred son of Timothy who won the Ascot Cup of
1888. Timothy Titus was expected to win several
Liverpools. He had looked to have a chance until close
home the previous season.

Comfit in reports of the race is charged with the
responsibility of a false start, but at a second attempt the
three and twenty were sent on their way, the usual
results marking their journey, Mr. T. Clyde's Dathi,
ridden by Moifaa's jockey Birch fell at the second
fence, at Becher's Brook Prince Hatzfeldt's second
string. Hard to Find, Mr. J. Bell-Irving's St. Boswells,
and Lord. Sefton's Canter Home, followed the example,
and at the Canal Turn a shout proclaimed that the

SOME LIVERPOOLS. INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

favourite was down. John M.P., it was afterwards
stated, had gone at the jump at such a tremendous pace
that he became unbalanced, and getting his forelegs into
the bank tumbled over the wing. Here too the rider-
less Dathi ran into Mr. Calverley Bewick's Kiora and
knocked him over. It might be supposed that this was
helping to clear the way for Comfit, but disaster was
supervening. He fell at Valentine's Brook, Mr. H.
Buckley's Roman Law tumbling over him, and shortly
afterwards Mr. Percy Whitaker, on another of Prince
Hatzfeldt's trio, Dearslayer, broke a stirrup-leather and
pulled up.

Timothy Titus, after jumping the water and going
off into the country in a style which flattered his
friends, came down at the fence by the canal, and soon
the race was reduced to a quartet, Prince Hatzfeldt's
Ascetic's Silver, who indeed had practically won at
the last fence, Mr. E. M. Lucas's Red Lad, Mr. B. W.
Parr's Aunt May, a daughter of Ascetic, ridden by Mr.
H. S. Persse, the present Stockbridge trainer, and Mr.
J. W. Phillips' Crautacaun. Ascetic's Silver scored by
ten lengths. The winner was a big lengthy chestnut
horse, to whom some time before Lord Coventry had
taken a fancy. There was a question of his satisfying
the veterinary surgeon, however, and this resulted in a
refusal to pass the horse as sound — unfortunately for the
gallant sportsman who had carried off the great event
more than forty years previously. I have a very dis-

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

tinct recollection of the contest, as it was my custom at
the time to pick out a dozen horses to be followed during
the steeplechase season, and Ascetic's Silver was one of
them. Mr. Arthur Coventry came up after the race to
Lord Derby's stand, from which I had been watching,
and congratulated me on the good race he imagined I
must have had ; but I had unfortunately omitted to back
the winner. It is strange that so good an animal, ridden
by his trainer, Mr. Aubrey Hastings, who knew him so
well, should have started at the long odds of 20 to i.

1906. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)
of £2750 (inc. a trophy value £125) ; Grand National
Course, about 4 miles 856 yds.

Prince Hatzfeldt's Ascetic's Silver, by

Ascetic, a. 10 st. 9 lbs. - - - - Mr. A. Hastings i

Mr. E. M. Lucas' Red Lad, 6 y. 10 st. 2 lbs. C. Kelly 2

Mr. B.W. Parr's Aunt May, a. II St. 2 lbs. - Mr. H. S. Persse 3
Mr. J. Wynford Phillips' Crautacaun, a.

10 St. 6 lbs. L Anthony 4

Mr. J. S. Morrison's Drumcree, a. 12 st. - Mr. W. Bulteel -
Mr. J. S. Morrison's John M.P., a. Ii st.

10 lbs. (inc. 2 lb. ex.) - - - • W. Taylor
Mr. A. Buckley's (Jr.) Roman Law, a.

11 St. 5 lbs. M. Walsh

Mr. Cotton's Phil May, a. 1 1 st. 5 lbs. - J. Owens

Mr. F. Bibby's Comfit, a. 1 1 st. - - F. Mason
Mr. W. B. Partridge's Timothy Titus, a.

lost. 12 lbs. E.Morgan

Mr. A. Gorham's Wolf's Folly, a. 10 st. 6 lbs. T. Fitton

Mr. T. Clyde's Dathi, a. 10 st. 4 lbs. - - A. Birch

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

Mr. P. E. Speakman's Buckaway II., a.

10 St. 4 lbs. A. Newey -

Mr. C. Bewicke's Kiora, a. lO st. 4 lbs. - G. Clancy

Prince Hatzfeldt's Dearslayer, a. 10 st. 4 lbs. Mr. P. Whitaker -

Mr. W. Hall Walker's Hill of Bree, a.

10 St. 3 lbs. R. Chadwick

Lord Sefton's Canter Home, a. 9 st. 13 lbs.

(inc. 6 lb. ex.) A. Aylin -

Mr, C. T. Garland's Oatlands, 6 y.

9 St. 13 lbs. H. Aylin -

Prince Hatzfeldt's Hard to Find, 6 y.

9 St. 7 lbs. E. R. Morgan

Mr. G. Johnstone's Gladiator, 6 y.

9 St. 9 lbs. E. DriscoU

Mr. Barclay Walker's Glenrex, 6 y.

9 St. 9 lbs. Mr. R. Walker

Mr. J. Bell-Irving's St. Boswells, a.

9 St. 7 lbs. D. Phelan

Mr. W. Paul's Pierre, a. 9 st. 7 lbs. - - J. Dillon

Winner trained by The Hon. A. Hastings.

7/2 agst. John M.P., lo/l Comfit, Phil May, Timothy Titus,
100/7 Roman Law, 100/6 Oatlands, Wolf's Folly, Gladiator,
Crautacaun, 20/1 Ascetic's Silver, Buckaway II., 25/1 Aunt
May, Dathi, 33/1 Drumcree, Kiora, Pierre, Red Lad, 50/1 Dear-
slayer, 66/1 Hard to Find, Hill of Bree, St. Boswells, Canter
Home, 1 00/ 1 Glenrex.

Won by 10 lengths, 2 lengths second and third. Time,
9 min. 34| sees.

Only those placed, and Wolf's Folly, Oatlands, Gladiator,
Drumcree and Phil May completed the course.

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

1907
About this period Mr. Bibby's quest in Ireland for
promising Liverpool horses was not particularly suc-
cessful. He had heard, however, that there might be
possibilities in a young one named Loop Head, a chest-
nut son of Brayhead and Barberry. As a four-year-old
Loop Head had won two of the three little races for
which he had started in Ireland, and had kept it up as a
five-year-old, taking the Adare Cup at Croome and the
County Plate at Tuam. This may not have meant
much, though it meant something, and in the winter of
1906 Loop Head was carrying the green, yellow belt and
sleeves at Gatwick. Mason rode him in the Winter
'Chase, where he finished third to another five-year-old,
Denmark, a well bred son of Queen's Birthday, who had
shown himself to be useful and whom later Mr. Bibby
secured. It was not long before the new purchase —
Loop Head — came to the front. He won a Novices'
'Chase at Hurst Park in the following January, and
though this was his only success for some time he ran
up more than once elsewhere, making a good show in
the Great Bangor Handicap Steeplechase, only missing
the Cranbourne 'Chase at Newbury by a head, and
scoring at Tenby the following January. Little hope
was entertained of him at Liverpool in 1907, though
the field was somewhat below the average in point of
merit, as is shown by the fact that Ascetic's Silver, who

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

had carried lost. 91b. when he won, was this time
elevated to I2st. 7 lb., an advance of very nearly 2 St.,
and nevertheless shared favouritism with Red Lad, who
had followed him home the previous season and was now
in receipt of 18 lb. instead of the 7 lb. which had
separated them twelve months before. Timothy Titus
was again prominent in the market, and Drumcree,
victorious in 1903 and now thirteen years old, was
allowed to take his chance.

There were rumours in favour of a seven-year-old
named Eremon, a son of Thurles and Daisy, belonging
to Mr. Stanley Howard, a name not very familiar to
racegoers, but trained by Coulthwaite, whose name was
very familiar indeed as a master of his art, with, it is
understood, some original ideas of training which suc-
ceeded in practice. Eremon had not done much up to
that time ; still he had won at Newbury, Hooton and
the Vale of White Horse. Prior to his appearance at
Liverpool he had been second for a ;^ioo race at San-
down, second again at Birmingham, not particularly
brilliant credentials, but he was nevertheless backed at
Liverpool at as little as 8 to i, and as it presently
appeared with excellent reason. Ridden by A. Newey,
Eremon went to the front as soon as the flag fell, and
raced to the first fence with such speed that Mr. T. G.
Arthur's Kilts, galloping with him, made a mistake and
broke his neck. At the next fence Prince Hatzfeldt's
Rathvale, who was not without supporters, blundered

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT, AND CAP

and fell, going- on riderless, a source of danger to the
rest of the field.

There was a very marked difference between the
Ascetic's Silver of this year and of the year before.
Here he was never dangerous, appearing to be beaten
early in the race, but Eremon was always handy, and
the greater credit is due to his jockey by reason of the
circumstance that all the way from the second fence he
rode without a stirrup. One of the pictures in this
book will show what jumping Liverpool fences really
means, and too much can scarcely be said in praise of a
jockey who compasses them successfully under this dis-
advantage. It also happened that Rathvale, for some
reason not to be guessed, seemed determined to accom-
pany Eremon throughout the journey, sometimes
galloping by his side, occasionally swerving just in front
of him as a fence was approached. After jumping
Valentine's Brook Eremon went away some twenty
lengths in front of Mr. H. Hardy's Tom West, who
was about as far in front of his follower, and it was only
from Tom West that danger ever threatened. Eremon
had the better speed, and finally disposed of Tom West
by half a dozen lengths, the riderless Rathvale
sticking to the winner past the post. It has been
emphasised that as a rule after winning a Liverpool a
horse is of small good for some months afterwards.
Eremon suffered so little that within ten days he won
the Lancashire Handicap Steeplechase at Manchester,

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

burdened with a 1 2 lb. penalty, in a canter by eight
lengths, from Domino and Judas.

1907. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE of £3000
(Handicap), inc. a trophy value £125. Grand Natioaal
Course, about 4 miles 856 yds.

Mr. Stanley Howard's Eremon, by Thurles,

7 y. 10 St. I lb. A. Newey i

Mr. H. Hardy's Tom West, a. 9 St. 12 lbs. - H. Murphy 2

Mr. W. Nelson's Patlander, a. lOst. 7 lbs. - J.Lynn 3

Mr. J. R. Hannam's Ravensclifife, a. 10 st.

9 lbs. F. Lyall 4

Mr. S. J. Unzue's Barabbas II., 6 y.

10 St. 7 lbs. R. Morgan 5

Prince Hatzfeldt's Ascetic's Silver, a.

12 St. 7 lbs. Mr. A. Hastings 6

Mr. P. E. Speakman's Buckaway H., a.

. 10 St. 4 lbs. H. Aylin 7

Capt. M'Laren's Napper Tandy, a.

lost. 13 lbs. Capt. R. H. Collis 8

Mr. W. P. Hanley's Teddie HL, a.

9 St. 13 lbs. .... Mr. J. O'Brien Butler -

Mr. W. B. Partridge's Timothy Titus, a.

list. 10 lbs. .... fell C.Kelly

Mr. J. S. Morrison's Drumcree, a. ii st.

9 lbs. fell Mr. W. Bulteel -

Mr. A. Buckley's (Jr.) Roman Law, a.

11 St. 7 lbs. ..... p.u. A. Anthony -

Mr. C. Hibbert's Red Lad, 7. 1 1 st. 3 lbs. fell J. Dillon

Prince Hatzfeldt's Rathvale, 6 y.

lost. 13 lbs. .... fell E. Driscoll
Lord Howard de Walden's Centre Board,

a. 10 St. II lbs. .... ref. J. Cain -

F 81

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. J. Meynell-Knight's Bouchal Ogue,

a. II St. 7 lbs. ... - fell C. Graham
Mr. Lionel Robinson's York II., a.

10 St. 6 lbs. fell T. Moran

Mr. T. G. Arthur's Kilts, a. lO st. 3 lbs. fell R. H. Harper
Mr. White-Heather's Detail, a. 10 st. fell W. Payne
Mr. F. Bibby's Loop Head, 6 y. 9 st.

12 lbs. fell A. Hogan

Mr. T. Nolan's The Foreman, 8 y.

9 St. 7 lbs. fell E. Lawn

Mr. T. Ashton's Seisdon Prince, a. 1 1 st. p.u. M. Phelan
Mr. G. Walmesley's Extravagance, 6 y.

10 St. II lbs. .... fell G. Goswell

Winner trained by Coulthwaite.

7/1 agst. Red Lad, Ascetic's Silver, 8/1 Eremon, lO/i Extrava-
gance, 100/8 Timothy Titus, 100/7 Ravenscliffe, 100/6 Tom West,
Kilts, 20/1 Rathvale, Barabbas II., Centre Board, Drumcree,
33/1 Napper Tandy, 40/1 Buckaway II., Detail, 50/1 others.

Won by 6 lengths, neck second and third. Time, 9 min.
47 1 sees.

1908

In the history of the race there cannot have been a
greater surprise than that occasioned by Major Douglas
Pennant's Rubio in 1908. This American bred geld-
ing, a son of Star Ruby and a mare named La Toquera,
had never done anything of note and had descended to
work ridiculously below the standard of the ordinary
handicap 'chaser. Being apparently of no use for his
destined career as a jumper of fences he was lent to an
innkeeper at Towcester who utilised him to help in

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

dragging the station omnibus and running about the
country in a dogcart on hire to commercial travellers and
others. A story is told of the Rubio of a somewhat
later day when he had become a 'chaser again and — what
had once seemed preposterous — his Liverpool prospects
were being discussed. Someone expressed a doubt as
to his lasting the course, as to whether indeed he could
get three miles. "Not get three miles! " one of those
present in the inn parlour exclaimed, "Why, I've driven
him thirty myself! "

Rubio had been under the charge of Mr. F. E.
Withington at Danebury, which was of course a
guarantee that everything possible in the way of an
effective preparation had been done. It happened,
however, that in Mr. Withington's stable at this time
there was a mare called Mattie Macgregor, the property
of Sir William Cooper, Major Douglas Tennant's
father-in-law — a six-year-old, who was supposed to be
at any rate the better of the Stockbridge pair. Mr.
Withington had an idea that she would run prominently
at least, and she figured in the market at 25 to i, odds
of four times that amount having in several cases been
laid against Rubio, though the return was " 66 to i
others," amongst whom he figured.

The favourite was Kirkland. Though four years had
elapsed since his victory, at the age of twelve he was now
remarkably fresh and well, and his accustomed jockey,
Mason, was on his back. The stable had a strong

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT. AND CAP

reputation, and he became so great a public fancy that
in the end no more than 13 to 2 was to be had about
him. What might have happened had he stood up
cannot of course be guessed. A field of four and twenty
went to the post, and of these eleven finished without
mishap. Kirkland does not come into this category, for
though he finished seventh, a detail duly recorded, this
was only after a fall, his jockey remounting and con-
tinuing to persevere, a phrase which in this connection
means to be in a position to take any chance in the
event of any being forthcoming by reason of mishaps
to most of those in front; it has often happened in
a steeplechase that the leaders have fallen and a horse
whose prospects have appeared hopeless has gained an
apparently impossible victory.

On this occasion I watched the race in company
with Mr. Fred Withington from the top of Lord
Derby's stand, and have a distinct recollection of his
amazement when he saw Rubio, carrying his owner's
black, red sleeves and cap, lengths in front of his follower
over the last fence, that follower being Mattie Mac-
gregor. A fortnight previously Rubio, ridden by
W. Bissell, had been unplaced fo'r a steeplechase at
Hooton Park, and two or three weeks before that failure
he had been even less conspicuous at Kempton. Bissell
here rode Mattie Macgregor, on the supposition that she
was at any rate the better of the two, and H. Bletsoe
was lucky enough to have the mount on the winner, to

SOME UVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

whom needless to say he did every justice. Rubio beat
the mare by ten lengths, and almost as far behind her
came Mr. Percy Whitaker on his own horse The
Lawyer, the Royal colours being carried into fourth
place by Flaxman, one of a family to whom I have
already made reference in this book; and it may be added
that another son of Circe's, Springbok, finished fifth.
Prior to the race I had remarked to Mr. Tommy
Lushington, who trained the King's jumpers in Ireland,
that I was afraid Flaxman was not likely to do much,
for odds of loo to 3 were on offer against him, and
when His Majesty's horses did not seem to have
altogether forlorn prospects they were generally in more
or less request. Tommy Lushington replied that he
quite expected Flaxman to run well and thought it highly
probable that he would at any rate make his way into a
place, reminding me that he had won a three mile
steeplechase at Baldoyle just before he was sent to
England. The place he just missed. I may perhaps
add that another son of Circe, the then five-year-old
Cackler, won the Champion Steeplechase the following
day.

1908. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)
of £2400 ; about 4 miles 856 yds.

Major F. D. Pennant's Rubio, by Star

Ruby, 10 y. 10 st. 5 lbs. - - - H. Bletsoe i

Mr. W. Cooper's Mattie Macgregor, 6 y.

10 St. 6 lbs. W. Bissell 2

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. P. Whitaker's The Lawyer III., a.

10 St. 13 lbs.

His Majesty's Flaxman, a. 9 st. 12 lbs. -
Col. R. L. Birkin's Springbok, a. 1 1 st. 5 lbs.
Mr. H. G. Farrant's Red Hall, a. 10 st. 8 lbs.
Mr. F. Bibby's Kirkland, a. ii st. 12 lbs.

(fell and was remounted)
Capt. J. Foster's Lara, a. 10 st. 8 lbs.
Mr. S. Howard's Jenkinstown, a. 10 st. 5 lbs.
Mr. Foxhall Keene's Chorus, a. 10 st. 5 lbs.
Mr. J. W. Phillips' Dathi, a. 10 st. 2 lbs. -
Mr. T. G. Paget's Alert HI., a. 9 st. 11 lbs.
Mr. G. Walmesley's York H., a. 10 st.

4 lbs. fell

Mr. J. E. Rogerson's Wee Busbie, a.

9 St. II lbs, fell

Capt. W. A. Pallin's Wild Fox HI., 6 y.

9 St. 9 lbs. fell

Mr. P. Nelke's Mount Prospect's Fortune,

6 y. 1 1 St. 1 1 lbs. - - - fell
Mr. A. Buckley's (Jr.) Roman Law, a.

11 St. 2 lbs. fell

Mr. T. Ashton's Seisdon Prince, a. 1 1 st. fell
Mr. G. Walmesley's Extravagance, a.

- fell

10 St. 12 lbs.
Mr. B. W. Parr's Nanoya, 6 y.

10 St. 7 lbs. fell

Mr. H. Hardy's Tom West, a. 10 st.

7 lbs. fell

Col. Kirkwood's Paddy Maher, a. 10 st.

3 lbs. fell

Owner 3

A. Anthony 4

J. O'Brien 5

Owner 6

F. Mason 7

Mr. W. Bulteel -

F. Morgan -

R. Chadwick -

I. Anthony -

L. Harland -

W. Rollason

D. Phelan

Owner -

R. Morgan

A. Newey -
M. Phelan

H. Aylin

J. Lynn -

H. Murphy -

Mr. O'Brien Butler -

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

Mr. Foxhall Keene's Prophet III., a

10 St, fell J. Dillon -

Mr. J, M. Kerne's Johnston Lad, a.

9 St. 12 lbs. fell E. DriscoU

Winner trained by Costello (really by Mr. Withington, Costello
was head lad).

6/1 agst. Kirkland, 8/i Tom West, Springbok, lo/i Johnstown
Lad, 100/8 Paddy Maher, 100/7 Roman Law, Mount Prospect's
Fortune, Seisdon Prince, Extravagance, Lawyer IIL, 25/1 Mattie
Macgregor, Lara, 33/1 Flaxman, 66/1 Rubio and others.

Won by 10 lengths, 6 lengths second and third. Time,
10 min. 4| sees.

Kirkland's term of useful work was by no means
over. It has always been Mr. Bibby's custom to send
suitable 'chasers, when they have been withdrawn from
racing, into his hunting stable. As a rule, as most
readers are doubtless aware, ex-'chasers do not make the
most comfortable of mounts with hounds. It is their
habit to rush their fences, and indeed it would be
amazing were this otherwise, seeing that the lesson
chiefly taught them has been to lose no time at their
jumps. But Kirkland proved extraordinarily amenable.
Mr. Bibby took him for his own riding. Truly it seems
a gorgeous thing to ride the winner of the Liverpool out
hunting, and it might be imagined that, always sup-
posing that hounds were fast enough and with a straight
necked fox before them, a Master so mounted would be
out by himself. (It might not be an easy task to mount
the huntsman in these circumstances!) But Kirkland

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

when he carried his master did not consider it his
duty to play at winning the National. Very much on
the contrary, with remarkable intelligence he speedily
learned what was wanted of him, and if a particularly
awkward fence was reached this sensible creature would
obey his rider's hint to pull up, would allow him to
scramble through the too awkward obstacle, and then,
himself jumping it, would placidly wait to be re-
mounted. When the old horse got beyond this, or
perhaps it should be said when Mr. Bibby gave up the
hounds, Kirkland with a few companions enjoyed a
luxurious old age until the war came to upset every-
thing, including equine pensioners. Then his master
decided that the kindest thing to do was to have him
shot, and Kirkland died a painless death, his name being
written big in Turf history.

Before leaving Kirkland I am glad to be able to give
an interesting story with regard to him, which Colonel
Lort-Phillips has kindly sent me. It is in connection
with Mason, who for a number of years did such excel-
lent service for the colours. The Colonel writes :
"Mason's first ride for us was at Clonmel in 190 1. I
had taken a four-year-old — Semi Colon — over to run
and a stable boy to ride her, but as the boy had no Irish
licence the Clerk of the Scales of course would not pass
him when he went to weigh. I didn't know what to do,
but turning around saw a youth, who had ridden in the
last race, beginning to change. I said 'Will you ride

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

this mare? ' and I well remember he hesitated for a few
seconds — a good deal hung on his decision, as probably
I should not have thought of him again had he refused.
Presently he said he would ride, and he had to hurry up
to get to the scale before the Clerk left. He won the
race very easily. The next time he rode for us was in
the Sefton the following year. E. Morgan had been
riding Kirkland, and although he was certainly a good
jockey I saw that he could not get enough out of his
mount to enable us to form a good opinion as to what the
horse could really do. I wrote to ask Mason to ride
him in this Sefton, and for some reason he never
answered my letter — I fancy he had been asked to ride
something else and could not reply until he knew
whether the animal would start.

" When in course of time I got to Liverpool I
wired to ask several jockeys to ride our outsider, but
none could or would, and on the morning of the race
I got young Nugent to give him a mile. When he
came in after having done so I invited him to ride in
the race, and I well recollect his somewhat reluctant
answer ' Yes, I'll ride the old beast ! ' I told him I had
offered Mason the mount, and had received no answer
from him, which led me to expect that Mason did not
intend to ride, though if I heard that he could do so my
offer would have to stand, I was really annoyed at
Nugent's indifference, and had he shown the least desire
for the mount I should have closed with him then and

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

there, as of course Mason had no claim after keeping me
waiting till the last moment. No one wanted to ride
the horse in fact, and poor Nugent was really not to be
blamed, as Kirkland gave his rider no * feel.' On my
return to the Adelphi I found a wire from Mason accept-
ing, so with the least possible delay I let Nugent know.
It seemed a relief to him much more than a disappoint-
ment.

" Mason won by eight lengths from Manifesto, who
if you will look at the details may I really think be
said to have run one of the best races of his life, seeing
that he was giving Kirkland 35 lb. As soon as Mason
got off the horse's back his first words were ' Will you
let me ride this horse in the National ? ' I felt that we
had a Liverpool horse, the most difficult animal in the
world to find. Next year he ran fourth in the National
— Mason always swears he was easily third — according
to the judge beaten a head by Manifesto, who was this
time giving him 231b. The following year Kirkland
was second to Moifaa, and Mason always told me after-
wards that it was this race which made him absolutely
certain of winning next time, bar accidents. You may
have forgotten that Mason, quite against our wishes,
rode some horse about a fortnight before the 1904
Liverpool and had a bad fall. He made light of it
and appeared all right for our race ; but he had broken
two ribs and was very tightly bandaged, so much so that
he was completely unable to make anything like proper

SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S

use of the horse during the last mile. This he did not
tell me until after he had won in 1905, notwithstanding
that he was repeatedly down here to ride gallops for us.
Then I learnt the truth. He said to me, ' I told you I
was sure to win, bar accidents, for I should have won as
I liked the year before had I been able to make use of
the horse. I was really quite helpless on him for the
last mile because of the pain, and because I was so
tightly bandaged. I daren't tell you before, as you
would have been angry with me for throwing the race
away.'

" In my opinion Kirkland's performances over Aintree
prove him to be about the most typical National horse
that has run in my time. He won the Sefton first time
over the course, the next time out there he was beaten a
short head for third place in the National. The year
following he was second, and the next time he won, carry-
ing 1 1 St. 5 lb., his time being 9 minutes 48I seconds.
Since the race has been run only eight horses have won it
in shorter time, and of these only two had won carrying
more weight — carrying it I mean in shorter time — viz. :
Cloister, 12 st. 7 lb., time 9 minutes 42I seconds,
and Why Not, 9 minutes 45I seconds. I was a good
deal nettled, I may perhaps add, by some of the news-
paper reports which made out that Ranunculus might
have won had he not gone so far round. It is a difficult
thing to go * far round ' on that course. If anyone
took an outside place in the race it was Mason, who told

GREE^; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

me that on Kirkland he always went wide to the right the
second time round, the reason being that the take off
and landing close to the rails on the inside is so much
worse than at the middle of" the fences, and no one
who knows the course jumps the fences close to the rails
on the left. But on Kirkland he declared that he felt
absolutely safe to jump wherever he had most room. I
have walked the course so often that I defy anyone to
contradict me when I maintain that there is no course in
England where less is to be gained in distance by stick-
ing to the rails. If you go to the start and face the first
turning point you will see that there is no advantage in
going to the left. The next turn, only about 200 yards
further, is by the Canal, where you are far safer on the
right than on the left. After this there is little short of
a mile and a half almost straight. If Ranunculus had
run second, and those who lost money on him wished
to account for it, they might have made a plausible
excuse. He could only struggle home a bad fourth,
however, and it was absurd to pretend that he 'might
have won,' more especially as Kirkland was giving him
21 lb. and scored very easily. I cannot help paying due
tribute to this most genuine 'chaser."

CHAPTER III

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

It must be considered highly probable that with a little
luck Mr. Bibby would have won the Liverpool of 1909.
It will have been seen that he had not been in the least
inclined to adopt the principle of winning by sheer
force of purse. He had bought the horses to whom
he took a fancy for varying sums, occasionally for large
ones, but seldom for what might be considered an
extravagant figure. For Caubeen, a son of Chad and
Revenue Cutter, he had given ;^i5oo, and the idea
that he was a Liverpool horse seemed to be confirmed
by the fact that he won the Grand Sefton Steeplechase
in the autumn of 1908. At the time of writing
Caubeen is standing at Mr. Bibby's stud farm at Exning
near Newmarket, and it may be remarked has some
promising stock to his credit. The 11 st. 7 lb. allotted
to him in the Liverpool of 1909 was not considered
excessive, and indeed the result showed that his merit
had scarcely been exaggerated.

This was the year when M. Robert Hennessy
sent over his five-year-old Lutteur III., intent on

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

winning the great race. The son of St. Damien and
Lausanne had naturally distinguished himself in
France, or it may be assumed that it would hot have
been thought worth while to put him to the test. He
had done well as a four-year-old, and prior to Liver-
pool, ridden by his accustomed jockey, Parfrement,
Yorkshire bred in spite of his name, had run away with
the Champion Steeplechase at Hurst Park. The dis-
tance was three miles and a quarter. He was meeting
his seniors at even weights, and started the outsider of
the four, the favourite being Mount Prospect's Fortune,
backed at 5 to 4, followed by Rustic Queen, 7 to 2,
with Leinster at 4 to i, Lutteur IIL 9 to 2 ;
and he had won without difficulty by half a dozen
lengths. Lutteur IIL started favourite, or rather
joint favourite with Mr. Nelke's Shady Girl, at
Aintree, but by no means a strong favourite, the price
being 100 to 9 ; for Parfrement adopted the forward
American seat, much after the fashion of the flat
race jockeys of that period, and there were many critics
who refused to believe that thus " crouching " he could
possibly get over the huge Liverpool fences. He did
so, however, without mishap, winning by a couple of
lengths from Judas, Caubeen, who finished third, Mason
as usual up, giving him 10 lb., and giving 1 1 lb. to Judas.
This year an exceptional number of animals completed
the course, though as usual falls were numerous. Those
who came down included Lord Chatham, Buckaway II.,

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Rustic Queen, Domino, Lurcher, the previous year's
winner Rubio, Davy Jones, Young Buck, Paddy Maher,
Count Rufiis and Red Hall ; Mattie Macgregor refused
in the hands of R. Morgan, Red Monk and Black Ivory
were pulled up, and another faller was Mr. Bibby's
second string Wickham a son of Childwick and Powder-
ham. Childwick, a son of St. Simon and Plaisanterie,
was the Cesarewitch winner of 1894, and notable as
having cost 6000 guineas as a yearling, which was at
that time the record price. Wickham cost only a
hundred, which he handsomely repaid, winning amongst
other races the Grand International Steeplechase at
Sandown. Another faller who may be mentioned was
Mr. H. G. Farrant's Red Hall, who had finished sixth
the previous year. Mr. Farrant was one of the rare
instances of a man who became an extremely good rider
after taking to the saddle comparatively late in life. He
was I believe tutor in the family of Mr. Albert Brassey,
and was rather chaffed for his inability to ride, which was
the more noticeable in view of the circumstance that Mr.
Brassey was for many years Master of the Heythrop
Hounds. Mr. Farrant therefore repaired the omission,
with such success that on Red Hall he won the National
Hunt Steeplechase of 1907 in a field of twenty-seven.

1909. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)

of £2400 ; about 4 miles 856 yds,
M. J. Hennessy's ch.h. Lutteur HI., by St.

Damien, 5 y. 10 st. nibs. - - G. Parfrement i

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. B. W. Parr's Judas, a. lO st. lo lbs. - R. Chadwick
Mr. F. Bibby's Caubeen, a. 1 1 st. 7 lbs. - F. Mason
Mr. H. Hardy's Tom West, a. 10 st. 9 lbs. - H. Murphy
Mr. R. Faber's Hercules H., a. 9 st. 13 lbs. - Mr. A. Gordon
Sir T. Gallwey's Leinster, a. 1 1 st. 7 lbs. - Mr. J. Rogers
Mr. P. Nelke's Shady Girl, a. 10 st. 9 lbs. - G. Clancy
Mr. J. M. Kerne's Carsey, 6 y. lost. 8 lbs. Owner
Capt. L. H. Jones' Robin Hood IV., a.

9 St. 9 lbs. Mr. R. Walker

Prince Hatzfeldt's Ascetic's Silver, a.

12 St. 7 lbs.

Prince Hatzfeldt's Rathvale, a. 1 1 st. 7 lbs.
Mr. G. Ashton's Lord Chatham, a. 1 1 st. -
Mr, C. F. K. Mainwaring's Brineoge,

a. 10 St. 7 lbs.

Baron de Forest's Lord Rivers, a. 10 st. 6 lbs. W. Bulteel
Mr. W. L. Longworth's Logan Rock, a. lost. H. Jackson
Mr. S. F. Gilbert's Buckaway H., a.

9 St. 13 lbs.

Mr. J. E. Rogerson's Wee Busbie, a.

9 St. 13 lbs.

Col. Kirkwood's Phaeton, a. 10 st. 4 lbs. -
Capt. W. A. Pallin's Wild Fox HI.,

a. 9 St. 9 lbs.

Mr. H. Hartland's Rustic Queen, a. 12 st. fell Mr. A. W. Wood
Major Pennant's Rubio, a. 1 1 st. 9 lbs. fell W. Bissell
Mr. W. C. Cooper's Mattie Macgregor, a.

II St. 4 lbs. - - - - refused R. Morgan
Mr. H. M. Hartigan's Domino, a.

11 St. I lb. fell P. Cowley

Mr. F. Bibby's Wickham, a. 10 st. 10 lbs. fell Capt. Collis
Mr. H. G. Farrant's Red Hall, a. 10 st.

12 lbs. fell Owner

B. Wall

D. Phelan
Mr. H. Ussher

Owner

Hon. A. Hastings -
W. Morgan
J. M'Kenna

H. Smyth

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Col. Kirkwood's Paddy Maher, a. lO st.

9 lbs. fell Mr. O'Brien Butler-

Mr. A. Scott's Black Ivory, a. 10 st.

12 lbs. p.u. Mr. A. Scott

Mr. F. W. Greswolde- Williams' Red Monk,

a. 10 St. 6 lbs. - . . . p.u. E. Morgan
Lord St. David's Davy Jones, 6 y.

10 St. 2 lbs. fell I. Anthony

Mr. W. Charter's Count Rufus, a. 10 st. fell W. Payne
Mr. F. M. Freake's Young Buck, a.

9 St. 12 lbs. fell H. B. Bletsoe

Mr. T. Stacey's The Lurcher, a. g st. g lbs. fell E. Piggott

Winner trained by H. Escott.

100/9 agst. Lutteur IIL, Shady Girl, 100/8 Domino, 100/6
Tom West, Mattie Macgregor, Leinster, Davy Jones, 20/1
Gaubeen, Rubio, Ascetic's Silver, 25/1 The Lurcher, Paddy
Maher, Lord Rivers, 33/1 Judas, Hercules IL, Robin Hood IV.,
50/1 Wickham, Rustic Queen, Lord Chatham, Logan Rock,
Count Rufus, Red Hall, loo/i others.

Won by 2 lengths, bad third. Time, 9 min. 53* sees.

1910

In 1 9 10 Mr. Bibby had no fewer than three of the

five and twenty starters, Caubeen esteemed by the public

considerably the best, and of the other two Glenside,

of whom Mr. Lort-Phillips entertained a very high

opinion, preferred to Wickham, who as the event proved

would have been much better left in his stable. This

was the year when great hopes were entertained that

Sir Charles Assheton-Smith's Jerry M. would achieve

the distinction which had been gained by Cloister and
G 97

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Manifesto of victoriously carrying I2st. 7 lb., an esti-
mate which proved to be only a little exaggerated.
Jerry M. ran extraordinarily well. He was favourite
at 6 to I, slightly in better demand than Judas, who
stood at 13 to 2. I remember Lord Marcus Beresford
asking me what I had backed ? " I have gone for the
two J's" I replied, "Jerry M. and Judas." "Ah," he
answered, "but you have left out the right J. —
Jenkinstown! " I took this for chaff, but it presently
appeared that if he had not actually meant it, he might
well have done so, for Jenkinstown won, Jerry M. failing
by three lengths to give him 30 lb.

Mr. Bibby's three all fell, indeed only five of
the starters finished, but that Caubeen, third favourite
at 8 to I, should have been among the unfor-
tunates was not his fault. Wickham was the first
to meet with disaster, ridden by Mr. W. Bulteel,
the brother of Manifesto's owner. The horse was
none the worse, however, was speedily on his legs
again, and as so often happens in such cases speedily
joined his field. He was apparently looking out for
his stable companion, and, seeing Caubeen, immediately
bore down upon him. The two had been jumping
together at home, and doubtless with the best intention
Wickham thought it well to continue the practice.
Where Caubeen went he followed. Mason vainly trying
to avoid his unwelcome attentions, and the riderless
Wickham suddenly swerving as they approached a fence

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

brought Caubeen down. When horses are a long way
from home it is always flitile to protest that they would
have won had all gone well with them, but it is certain
that Caubeen was making light of the fences and was
full of running when the accident happened. Glenside's
jockey did not seem altogether at home on the horse
and they parted company.

1910. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)
of £2400 ; about 4 miles 856 yds.

Mr. Stanley Howard's b.g. Jenkinstown,

by Hackler, 9 y. 10 st. 5 lbs. - - R. Chadwick i

Mr. Assheton Smith's Jerry M., a. 12 st. 7 lbs. E. Driscoll 2

Mr. R. Hall's Odor, a. 9 st. 8 lbs. - - Owner 3

Prince Hatzfeldt's Carsey, a. 10 st. 7 lbs. - G. R. Morgan 4

Mr. Law's Fetlar's Pride, a. 10 st. Ii lbs. - J. Walsh, Jr. 5

Col. R. Birkin's Springbok, a. 1 1 st. 5 lbs.- W. Payne -

Mr. Keene's Precentor H., a. 10 st. 7 lbs. - W. Rollason

Sir P. Walker's Albuera, a. 1 0 st. 1 2 lbs. fell F. Ly all

Mr. F. Bibby's Wickham, a. 10 st. 1 1 lbs. fell W. Bulteel
Col. Kirkwood's Paddy Maher, a. 10 st.

9 lbs. fell Mr. R. H. Walker -

Mr. F. Bibby's Glenside, a. 10 st. 4 lbs. fell R. Goswell
Lord Suffolk's General Fox, 6 y.

lost. 12 lbs. - . - . fell T. Wilmot

Col. Kirkwood's Phaeton, a. 10 st. i lb. fell F. Morgan -

Mr. D. Faber's Hercules H., a. 9 st. 9 lbs. fell C. Hawkins
Mr. Longworth's Logan Rock, a. 9 st.

7 lbs. fell H. Jackson

Mr. J. A. de Rothschild's Bushido, 5 y.

9 St. 7 lbs. fell J. Hetherington -

Mr. F. Bibby's Caubeen, a. 1 1 st. 8 lbs. fell F. Mason

fell

S. Walkington -

fell

A. Anthony -

St.

fell

R. Morgan -

fell

J. Dillon

fell

G. Clancy -

fell

F. Dainly

St.

ref.

Mr. F. A. Brown -

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. Ismay's Bloodstone, a. 1 1 st. 8 lbs.
Mr. W. Bailey's Judas, a. 1 1 st. 5 lbs.
Prince Hatzfeldt's Rathvale, a. ii

I lb.

Mr. G. Aston's Lord Chatham, a.

10 St. 12 lbs. ....

Mr. Nelke's Shady Girl, a. 10 st. 8 lbs.
Mr. Stacey's The Lurcher, a. 9 st. 9 lbs.
Mr. Mainwaring's Brineoge, a. 10

4 lbs.

Sir John Smiley's Captain Farrell, 6 y.

9 St. 10 lbs. ref. G. Brown. -

Winner trained by T. Coulthwaite.

6/1 agst. Jerry M., 13/2 Judas, 8/1 Caubeen, 100/8 Jenkins-
town, Carsey, 100/7 Bloodstone, Albuera, 100/6 The Lurcher,
20/1 Logan Rock, 25/1 Glenside, Fetlar's Pride, Springbok,
33/1 Paddy Maher, Shady Girl, 66/1 Wickham, Bushido, Rath-
vale, General Fox, lOO/i others.

Place betting — 2/1 agst. Jerry M., Judas. Proportionate odds
others.

Time, 10 min. 4| sees.

I may here observe that before the next jumping
season the alliance between the friends Mr. Bibby and
Colonel Lort-Phillips was dissolved, and the horses went
to Kinlet Park, Bewdley, under the charge of Captain
R. H. Collis.

1911

The year 1 9 1 1 saw Mr. Bibby's second triumph, the
victory of Glenside, of whom it may be said without
fear of contradiction that he was a strangely underrated

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

animal, that is to say by the average racegoer. In dis-
quisitions on the race the winner was spoken of
somewhat slightingly, not a little so indeed, some of the
critics attempting to explain the result by the remark
that something had to win and as all the others fell that
something proved to be Glenside. This is an altogether
incorrect view, and I say so for this reason : on the
publication of the weights I had a long talk about the
coming event to Colonel Lort-Phillips. He was not at
that time training the horses. His partnership with
Mr. Bibby had terminated, and the stable was under the
charge of Captain Collis, the scene of action being Kinlet
Park, the residence of Colonel R. W. B. Fisher-Childe,
C.B., whose park was utilised for gallops, suitable train-
ing jumps being of course carefully erected. Col. Lort-
Phillips and myself as just remarked discussed the
handicap, and he had expressed a strong conviction that
Glenside was more than likely to beat Caubeen and win.
Lutteur III. was to run again, and though this time he
had 1 2 St. 3 lb., it could be argued that the weight was
not excessive. When a five-year-old, as noted on a
previous page, he had carried lost, ii lb., and weight
for age over four miles and a half would show a great
advance between the ages of five and seven. The scale
as published in the National Hunt rules does not deal
with this. The Committee recommend that from the
I St of January to the 30th of June six-year-old and aged
horses should give five-year-olds 9 lb. in steeplechases

lOI

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

of three miles and upwards, but in this respect what is
fair for three miles can scarcely be considered equally fair
over a course half as long again. There are so few
steeplechases of a longer distance than three miles that
perhaps a special scale of weights could hardly be
expected. I am sure, however, that the reader will see
my point.

Besides Lutteur III. there was another French horse
in the race, Trianon III., a grey six-year-old son of
Champaubert, whose friends appeared to be somewhat
surprised, if at the same time likewise gratified, at offers
of loo to 3 against him. They thought his chance was
very much better than the price suggested, though they
were naturally delighted to take the odds. In an Open
Steeplechase at Hurst Park a little more than a week
before the Liverpool Spring Meeting Lutteur III. had
given Trianon III. lolb. and beaten him about as many
lengths. In the National Lutteur was set to give only
9 lb., but considerations of a few pounds, severely as they
tell in a close finish, are frequently set at naught in the
great 'chase, where accident and luck help so greatly to
victory or defeat. But the chief dangers to the favourite
were supposed to be Caubeen and Rathnally, the latter a
six-year-old who had already acquired a tremendous
reputation — I am not using the adjective at random.
Rathnally's friends were convinced that he was little
short of a wonder, and that he was in form was shown
by the fact that he had won a steeplechase with 6 to i on

I02

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

him at Haydock Park on the same day as that on which
Lutteur III. had beaten his grey countryman. The
fancy for Caubeen was justified for reasons already
stated. Then again Carsey had shown himself dis-
tinctly a Liverpool horse. This it will be seen looked
like a National which would take a great deal of
winning, and there was the previous year's victor,
Jenkinstown, with that fine horseman Percy Woodland
to make the best of him. It seems to have been the
custom of the Liverpool handicapper to penalise a horse,
so to speak, that is to say to raise his weight, something
like a stone, and Jenkinstown had i61b. more to carry
than the weight he had borne twelve months before.

Glenside had been a cheap purchase. Colonel Lort-
Phillips had bought him for the partnership after he
had won a small race at Tenby, giving no more than
;^i50. This low price was doubtless due in a great
measure to the fact that the horse had only one eye, the
disadvantage of which need not be emphasised. The
style in which he had jumped the Tenby banks con-
vinced the partners that he could be trusted to jump
Liverpool, indeed he was regarded not only by his
owner and his trainer, but by shrewd judges with experi-
ence of what was required, as an ideal Liverpool horse,
and a strong impression existed that had he not jumped
his jockey off the previous season — for that is what it
came to — he could hardly have been beaten. Glenside
was a son of St. Oris and Kilwinnet, his sire it need

103

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

scarcely perhaps be remarked being one of the only two
horses who ever beat Flying Fox. This would suggest
that his offspring would be gifted with speed, and if it
can hardly be said that this was Glenside's strong point,
seeing that he was such an extraordinary stayer, he had
done by no means badly in two-mile 'chases. He had
shown his mastery of the Liverpool fences on two occa-
sions. In 1909 he had finished second to Cackler for
the Grand Sefton, and in 19 10, missing the Sefton with a
view to participation in the Valentine 'Chase the next
day, he had finished second to Leinster. For the Liver-
pool of 191 1, however, the year we are now discussing,
the general opinion, shared I think by Captain Collis,
was that Caubeen was tolerably certain to give him the
1 6 lb. at which Mr. E. A. C. Topham had estimated
their prospects.

There has never been such an unmitigated tale of
disaster as that of the Liverpool which Glenside won in
the hands of Mr. J. R. Anthony. His starting price
was 20 to I, as I have agreeable reason to recollect, for
though not neglecting Caubeen I had accepted Col. Lort-
Phillips's advice and backed the winner. One after
another the horses kept falling at fence after fence, and it
must be frankly admitted that backers of Caubeen,
ridden by A. Newey, had not a real run for their money.
In the official account of the race it is stated that
" Caubeen refused," but this gives an altogether
inaccurate idea of what happened. He and Rathnally

104

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

approached a fence together, out in what is called " the
country." Rathnally swerved and ran down the jump
just as Caubeen was coming to it. It may be that this
interference cost Caubeen the race. R. Chadwick,
Rathnally's jockey, came off, and had, it is said, quite a
considerable chase after his mount before he caught it,
climbed again into the saddle, and set off in pursuit.
He certainly made up a considerable amount of
ground, enough to enable his friends to derive such con-
solation as they could from the assertion that he " would
have won " had he stood up ; but every year there is an
average of I suppose some half dozen horses of whom
the same thing is fervently protested. Only four of the
six and twenty starters finished, Glenside as already
remarked being absolutely the only one who got round
without falling, refusing or running out. He had by
no means escaped interference, which may have accounted
for the fact of his being extremely tired. Those of us
who were interested in his success had an anxious
moment as he rose at the penultimate fence, for the
chance of his getting over seemed not a little doubtful.
At the last fence the anxiety recurred, and there was a
general sigh of relief as he was seen to land on his legs.
Then he had nothing to do but to canter home. Rath-
nally also jumped safely, but was twenty lengths behind.
Shady Girl followed at an interval of three lengths, and
Mr. MacNeill, who had a big bet that he would get
round, won his money, for Foolhardy was placed fourth.

105

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT, AND CAP

A few of the others, having been remounted, appeared at
intervals, the rest returning to the paddock from various
parts of the course. Although this does not appear to be
the general opinion it seems extremely probable that the
best horse won.

Mr. Bibby was unable to be present, a misfortune
which must be a matter of lasting regret to him, but
Mrs. Bibby gallantly threw herself into the breach and
led the horse in, which doubtless accounted for the
specially enthusiastic reception of the winner. A word
may be added about Glenside's breeding, as stated by
St. Gris-Kilwinnet. The dam was by Kilmartin who
won the Leger of 1887 out of Neruda by Fitzjames,
her dam Performer by Adventurer out of Olga by
Charles XII. St. Gris was by Galopin-Isabel, by
Plebeian out of Parma by Parmesan. Galopin, sire of
St. Simon amongst other great horses, by Vedette by
Voltigeur. Here we have some of the greatest names
in Turf history. What made the victory all the more
creditable was that forty-eight hours before the race
Glenside was coughing and had a temperature of 106
degrees.

191 1. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)
of £2500 ; about 4 miles 856 yds.

Mr. F. Bibby's b.g. Glenside, by St. Gris,

a, 10 St. 3 lbs. Mr. J, Anthony i

Mr. 0. H. Jones' Rathnally, 6 y. 11 st. fell R. Chadwick 2

Mr. P. Nelke's Shady Girl, a. 10 st. 5 lbs. fell G. Clancy 3

106

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Mr. MacNeill's Foolhardy, a. 9 st. 7 lbs. fell Owner
Mr. P. Nelke's Mount Prospect's Fortune,

a. 1 1 St. 6 lbs.

Mr. P. Whitaker's Rory O'Moore, a.

11 St. 6 lbs.

Mr. J. J. Astor's Schwarmer, a. 10 st.

M. Charles de Gheest's Suhescan, a. 10 st. i lb. A. V. Chapman

Major J. Cliff's Great Cross, 6 yrs.,

9 St. 13 lbs.

Lady Torrington's Circassian's Pride,

9 St. 13 lbs.- ....

Mr. Foxhall Keene's Precentor II.,

9 St. II lbs.

Mr. C. Luttrell's Carder, a. 9 st. 7 lbs.
Mr. W. Stratton's Roman Candle, a.

9 St. 7 lbs.

Mr. D. Faber's Hercules II., a. 9 st. 8 lbs.
Mr. D. Faber's Hesperus Magnus, a. 9 st.

7 lbs.

Mr. C. Wildenberg's Carsey, a. 10 st. 6 lbs.
M. James Hennessy's Lutteur III., a.

12 St. 3 lbs. fell

Mr. H. de Mumm's Trianon III., 6 y.

II St. 8 lbs. fell

Mr. S. Howard's Jenkinstown, a. Ii st.

7 lbs.

Baron de Forest's Lord Rivers, a.

10 St. 9 lbs.

Mr. C. Pearson's Fetlar's Pride,

10 St. 7 lbs.

Mr. G. D'Arcy Edwardes' Viz, a.

10 St. 5 lbs.

Mr. J. J. Astor's Monk V., a. 10 st. i lb. fell

107

E. DriscoU

Owner

F. Dainty
.. A. V. Cha

Mr. C. Walwyn

Isaac Morgan

A. Aylin

B. Roberts

T. Wilmot
Mr. R. Hall

W. FitzGerald
P. Cowley

G. Parfrement
R. Sauval

fell P. Woodland

fell
a.
fell

fell

W. Payne

J. Walsh, Jr.

H. Bletsoe
Mr. F. Drake

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. F. S. Francis' Bridge IV,, a. 9 st. 9 lbs. fell Mr. Roberts
Mr. G. L. Pirie's Flaxen, a. 9 st. 7 lbs. fell Mr. A. Smith
Mr. F. Bibby's Caubeen, a. 1 1 st. 5 lbs. ref . A. Newey

Winner trained by Capt. Collis.

7/2 agst. Lutteur III., 8/1 Caubeen, Rathnally, 100/9 Carsey,
100/7 Rory O'Moore, Jenkinstown, 20/1 Glenside, 25/1
Schwarmer, Circassian's Pride, Fetlar's Pride, 28/1 Roman
Candle, 33/1 Lord Rivers, Shady Girl, Trianon III., 50/1 Flaxen,
Foolhardy, Viz, Suhescan, Carder, Hercules II., 66/1 Mount
Prospect's Fortune, Great Cross, Hesperus Magnus, lOO/i
Monk v.. Precentor II., Bridge IV.

Place betting — 6/4 agst. Lutteur III. Others in proportion.

Won by 20 lengths, 3 lengths second and third. Time,

10 min. 35 sees.

Only four completed the course.

1912

In 1 91 2 Mr. Bibby had two representatives in the
field of four and twenty, Caubeen again, this time with

1 1 St. 5 lb., the same weight as in the previous year, and
Glenside with 1 1 st., an addition of 1 1 lb. Rathnally's
friends were once more sanguine in the extreme, and he
would probably have started at even less than the 4 to i
which was freely taken had it not been for the faith
which many men displayed in Sir Charles Assheton-
Smith's Jerry M., who finally became an equal favourite
with Rathnally, notwithstanding his burden of 12 st. 7 lb*
This was the weight he carried when second to Jenkins-
town two years before, and as already remarked he had
been beaten no more than three lengths, giving 30 lb.,

108

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

but his ability to carry the weight could not be doubted.
For some reason Sir Charles was not altogether satisfied
with his jockey, Piggott. He had been persuaded that
this admirable horseman had grown nervous of the
Liverpool fences, and he came to me to discuss the
subject of" finding another rider for his great horse.

I entertained a very high appreciation of Piggott's
skill, and did not for a moment believe in the theory that
he was likely to be affected by nerves. A few years ago
when managing a stable of steeplechase horses I had
always taken particular pains to secure Piggott in pre-
ference to anybody else whenever it was possible, and
Sir Charles left me reluctantly convinced, or half con-
vinced, that a change was undesirable. As a matter of
fact Piggott rode a perfect race, as I recollect was
cordially admitted by two authorities who spoke with
peculiar knowledge, Joseph Cannon, who had won on
Regal five and thirty years before, and Mr. George
Lambton, who had been prominent in Liverpoois
though he had never actually won. I do not know
whetner the fences were easier in 1912 than In 191 1.
Mr. Topham, I believe, states that there was no altera-
tion, at any rate in the size and shape, though possibly
they may not have been quite so strongly built up. I
am not aware how this may be. There were not so
many falls, only about ten coming to grief, Rathnally
one of the very first to do so, and Glenside ridden by
Mr. H. Ussher was also another victim. Caubeen kept

109

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

his legs, but suffered from interference, and failed to
finish in the first five, Jerry M. being followed home by
Bloodstone, Axle Pin, Carsey and Sir Halbert, the last
named having won the National Hunt Steeplechase,
beating no fewer than thirty-seven competitors, in 191 1.
Jerry M. I regard as one of the greatest of 'chasers,
with the unique record of having won the Liverpool
after having previously carried off the Grand Steeple-
chase de Paris at Auteuil. In the face of Jerry M.'s
favouritism odds of 100 to 9 were taken about Caubeen
at Liverpool, but Glenside who was on the same mark
with him, both having 11 st. 5 lb., was little esteemed,
and started at 40 to i.

1912. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)
of £3200 ; about 4 miles 856 yds.

Sir Charles Assheton Smith's Jerry M., by

Walmsgate, a. 12 st. 7 lbs. -
Mr. C. Bower Ismay's Bloodstone, a.

1 1 St. 6 lbs.

Mr. H. M. Hartigan's Axle Pin, a.

10 St. 4 lbs.

Mr. C. H. Wildenberg's Carsey, a. 10 st.

13 lbs.

Capt. F. D. Grissell's Sir Halbert, a.

10 St. 6 lbs.

Mr. Stanley Howard's Jenkinstown, a.

11 St. 7 lbs.

Mr. F. Bibby's Caubeen, a. 11 st. 5 lbs. -
Mr. P. Nelke's Mount Prospect's Fortune,

a. 1 1 St. 4 lbs. J. Kelly

E. Piggott

F. Lyall

L Anthony

Mr. H. Drake

Mr. A. Smith

W. Payne

A. Newey

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Mr. K. F. Malcomson's Ballyhackle, a.

1 1 St. 7 lbs. I. Morgan -

Mr. Hunter Moore's Kilkeel, a. lo st. 7 lbs. R. Trudgill -

Mr. C. M. Barran's Regent, a. 10 st. 8 lbs, - F, Morgan

Mr. F. S. Francis' Bridge IV., a. 10 st. 8 lbs. Mr. G. Poole

Major H. M. Cliff's Great Cross, a. 10 st. i lb, E. Lawn -

Mr. Foxhall Keene's Precentor II., a, 10 st. A. Aylin

Mrs. Croft's Gold Seal II., a. 10 st. • - J. Finn -

Mr. 0. H. Jones' Rathnally, 7 y.

II St. II lbs. .... fell R. Chadwick
Mr. P. Whitaker's Rory O'Moore, a.

1 1 St. 7 lbs. fell F, Mason

Mr. F. Bibby's Glenside, a. list. - fell Mr. H. Ussher
Mr. C, Pearson's Fetlar's Pride, a.

10 St. 7 lbs. .... fell G. Lyall

Sir Charles Assheton Smith's Covertcoat,

6 y. 10 St. 5 lbs. - - - - fell J. Walsh, Jr.
Mr. E. Brandon's Whitelegs II., a.

10 St. 2 lbs. fell J. Farrell

Mr. Wm. Wilson's Sans Peur, a. 10 St. fell J.Kay
Mr. W. Macneill's Foolhardy, a. 10 st.

3 lbs. fell Mr. Macneill

Capt. H. C. Higgins' Glenfinder, a. 10 st. fell J. Foran

Winner trained by Mr. R. Gore.

4/1 agst. Rathnally, Jerry M., 9/1 Rory O'Moore, 100/9
Caubeen, I2i Carsey, 100/7 Jenkinstown, 20/1 Axle Pin, Bally-
hackle, 25/1 Bridge IV., 33/1 Covertcoat, 40/1 Glenside, Great
Cross, Bloodstone, 66/1 others.

Place betting — 5/4 Rathnally, Jerry M.

Won by 6 lengths, 4 lengths second and third. Time, 10 min.
13 1 sees.

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

1913
I well recall Sir Charles's anxiety as to the weight
which would be allotted to Jerry M. the season after his
victory. Sir Charles was something of a child, if I
may so speak of an old friend, but I think all who knew
him well would agree ; and he was anxious it should
be known that if more than I2st. 10 lb. was allotted
to the horse he would not accept. When the eagerly
expected handicap was published i2st. 10 lb. was the
weight apportioned. Perhaps I may be excused for
adding that I had said nothing about this matter in
any of the papers for which I was writing, being quite
confident that Mr. Topham would not be influenced
by newspaper criticism, comment, advice, or I am almost
inclined to say threat. The weight mattered little, how-
ever, as before the acceptances were due it was found
necessary to withdraw the great horse, and he figured
among the eleven who went out from an entry of fifty-
three. By extraordinarily good luck Sir Charles had a
second string, two indeed, Flaxseed, one of the famous
Circe family, in with 1 1 st. 9 lb., and Covertcoat with
3 lb. less. Covertcoat was a near relation of Flaxseed,
Cackler, and other notable 'chasers, being a son of
Hackler and of Cinnamon, own sister to Circe. He
was far removed from the class of Jerry M., but never-
theless distinctly a usefiil horse. There seemed doubt
as to whether he would stay the course, this doubt being

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

founded on the fact that his own brother Covert Hack
was never able to do so, though up to the limit of his
compass he was an animal of special merit, as he showed
in England and Ireland. Speaking from memory
Covert Hack won the Conyngham Cup, one of the most
coveted of Irish 'cross country events, no fewer than
four times.

To oppose the pick of the entry in 1913 Mr. Bibby
had a bay eight-year-old gelding named Thowl Pin,
bought after a creditable career in Ireland. He was the
son of Pilot and Hairpin, and half brother to a horse
belonging to Lord Derby named Axle Pin. Prior to
the purchase of Thowl Pin by Mr. Bibby in 1912 his
owner, Major C. Dalton, had won a military steeplechase
on him at the Ward Hunt Meeting, and also the Irish
Grand National at Punchestown, starting an even money
favourite on both occasions. These exploits were in the
Spring, and in the Autumn he first carried Mr. Bibby's
colours in the Becher Steeplechase at Liverpool, which
he won by half a dozen lengths, an excellent start, show-
ing as it did that he was capable of dealing with the
formidable fences. The good start was not continued,
and he has in fact turned out a grievous disappointment.

In 1 9 13 he was unplaced to General Fox, Covertcoat

and Irish Mail for the Liverpool Trial Steeplechase at

Sandown in February, unplaced to Covertcoat at Hurst

Park in March, and a week later behind Couvrefeu II.

at Newbury. Liverpool followed. This year, it may
H 113

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

be remarked, the usual order which had been observed
for many seasons was upset. Instead of a start on the
flat at Lincoln there were meetings previously at
Kempton, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leicester, Catterick
and Alexandra Park, also under National Hunt Rules at
Manchester, which had always hitherto come after Liver-
pool ; this time it was placed prior to the fixture which
had for so long divided the week with Lincoln. The
stable then presided over by Mr. H. Ussher, whose
name occurs on a previous page as a wearer of the green,
yellow belt and sleeves, was a power in the land, and
by wellnigh universal consent Ballyhackle, a son of
Hackler and Ballymacarney — afterwards to be better
known as a dam of steeplechasers — was made a warm
favourite, his trainer riding. Ballyhackle stood at 5 to
I, four others, Covertcoat, Carsey, Highbridge and
Wavelet on the same mark at 100 to 9.

Thowl Pin was by no means despised. Though he
had done little in his three previous races it was not
forgotten that he had jumped the course on his first
essay, a forcible recommendation ; and moreover he had
conveyed the impression that he was a Liverpool horse.
Lutteur IIL was not sent, but France was represented
by the grey Trianon IIL, not looked on as dangerous.
Piggott was no longer retained by Sir Charles, Covert-
coat being entrusted to Percy Woodland, who won at
his ease by so much that the Judge made no attempt to
go into details, and gave it as " a distance," Irish Mail,

114

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

who was second, being as much in front of Carsey who
was third. As for Thowl Pin, ridden by Isaac Morgan,
who had been on most of the horses since Captain Collis
had taken over their charge, he met with what might be
described as the common fate. The Steeplechase
Calendar sums up the happenings briefly by saying that
" only the three placed completed the course," and
Carsey had fallen. It appears therefore that of the two
and twenty starters only the odd two finished without
mishap, which was almost as bad as the result in Glen-
side's year. Ballyhackle, I might add, did not fall but
refused, under what circumstances I forget. It is very
certain that Mr. Ussher meant business, also he knew
the horse better than anyone else, and it may very likely
be that the refusal was due to some sort of interference
or mishap, which, however, does not concern us. Thowl
Pin ran in the Sefton in which Ballyhackle to some
extent redeemed his character by winning from Irish
Mail, and Thowl Pin at least completed the course,
finishing sixth.

1913. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)

of £3170 ; about 4 miles 856 yards.
Sir C. Assheton Smith's Covertcoat, by

Hackler, 7 y. 1 1 st. 6 lbs. - - - P. Woodland I

Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake's Irish Mail, 6 y.

1 1 St. 4 lbs. Mr. 0. Anthony 2

Mr. C. H. Wildenburg's Carsey, a. 12 st. fell- Mr. H. Drake 3

Mr. F. Bibby's Thowl Pin, a. 1 1 st. 9 lbs. fell Isaac Morgan

Sir G. Bullough's Regent, a. 1 1 st. 7 lbs. fell Mr. J. Anthony -

115

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. Eric Piatt's The Rejected IV., a.

II St. 3 lbs. fell Mr. G. Cotton

Capt. H. C. Higgins' Merry Land, a.

II St. 3 lbs. fell Trudgill -

Mr. C. Pearson's Fetlar's Pride, a.

1 1 St. 2 lbs. fell F. Morgan

Mr. W. Macneill's Foolhardy, a. 1 1 st. fell Mr. W. Macneill -
Mr. C. Bower Ismay's Bloodstone, a.

12 St. 7 lbs. fell F. Lyall

M. H. de Mumm's Trianon III, a.

12 St. 3 lbs. fell O'Connor -

Mr. J. R. Fell'sHighbridge, a. I2st. fell F.Williams
Mr. W. R. Clarke's Melamar, a. ii st.

6 lbs. fell W. Payne

Mr. M. M. Henderson's Blowpipe, a.

1 1 St. 4 lbs. fell W. J. Smith

Mr. R. Whitehead's Fearless VII., a. ii st. fell Mr. Pigot-Moodie -
Mr, A. H. Straker's Wavelet, 6 y. 1 1 st. fell A. Newey
Mr. J. Langley's Tokay, a. 1 1 st. - fell Hopper -

Mr. W. A. Wallis's The Miner, a. ii st.

6 lbs. p.u. Mr. L. Brabazon -

Capt. H. C. Higgins' Dysart, a.

12 St. 4 lbs. ref. Capt. O'B. Butler -

Mr. K. F. Malcomson's Ballyhackle, a.

II St. II lbs. - . - . ref. Mr. Ussher -

Mr. F. S. Watt's Black Plum, a. ii st.

5 lbs. ref. R. Morgan

Lord Derby's Axle Pin, a. 1 1 st. 4 lbs. ref. Mr. P. Whitaker

Winner trained by Mr. R. Gore.

5/1 Ballyhackle, 100/9 Carsey, Highbridge, Wavelet, Covert-
coat, 12J Axle Pin, Melamar, 100/6 Bloodstone, 20/1 Thowl Pin,
25/1 Irish Mail, Blowpipe, 33/1 Fetlar's Pride, Trianon III.,
40/1 The Rejected IV., 50/1 Dysart, Tokay, 66/1 Regent, Black

116

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Plum, loo/i The Miner, Fearless VII., Merry Land, 200/1
Foolhardy.

Place betting — 2^ Ballyhackle, proportionate odds remainder.

Distance, same. Time, 10 min. 19 sees.

1914

For the Liverpool of 1914 Mr. Bibby had no better
representative than Thowl Pin again. It was impos-
sible to be anything like hopefbl of him, though at the
same time it was felt that he represented quite a reason-
able possibility, the general opinion, however, being
demonstrated by the odds, 100 to 3. Covertcoat was
top weight with 12 st. 7 lb., having gone up 151b. from
the previous year, a detail which may be regarded from
another point of view. Though he carried 1 1 st. 6 lb.
when he won, owing to the withdrawal of Jerry M. he
had originally been set to carry no more than 10 st. 5 lb.,
so that his advance in 1914 was a very great one. No
doubt it was too much, for though he stood up, and so
far as I could see there was no particular excuse to be
made for him, he finished no nearer than eighth. It
was not a strong field, but even admitting this, Covert-
coat was not the sort of horse to repeat the achievement
of Cloister and Manifesto. The two French horses
were not sent in vain, and the fancy for them could not be
held entirely without justification ; but the result was a
general surprise. It is easy to get out of one's depth
when talking about "class" in connection with jumpers.

117

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT, AND CAP

Most men would have derided the idea that Sunloch
was anything approaching the class requisite, indis-
pensable, indeed, for a Liverpool winner. Now and
then he had won, usually at minor meetings, but no
surprise would have been created if his name had been
found in a selling race. At Liverpool as a matter of
course he had bottom weight, 9 st. 7 lb., in spite of
which when experienced writers were dealing with the
event they put him amongst the rubbish, altogether out
of place in the great steeplechase of the season. If the
race had been run again I cannot believe that he would
have been near success. Taking advantage of his light
weight his jockey sent him to the front, and he was
allowed to retain undisputed possession of the lead,
doubtless for the reason that the riders behind him were
convinced that if he did not fall he would inevitably
come back to them. He kept on unflaggingly, and
when C. Hawkins on Trianon IIL and A. Carter on
Lutteur IIL went on in vigorous pursuit they were too
late. The first named was giving exactly 2 st., the other
3 St. within a pound ; and Sunloch won by eight lengths,
the same distance between second and third.

Fourth place was filled by Rory O'Moore, ridden by
his owner Mr. Percy Whitaker. Rory O'Moore jumped
well and stayed well, gifts the possession of which he
had proved by his success in the National Hunt Steeple-
chase six years before. He was followed by a Sand-
ringham-bred son of Nunthorpe and Azeeza named

118

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Bahadur, who had rather a curious history. He had
been regarded as worthless, and early disappeared from
active service. His existence was forgotten when carry-
ing the colours of Lord Marcus Beresford he came out
for a ;^ioo flat race at Lewes. At this time Mr. George
Thursby was riding with extraordinary success, and in
this Rothschild Plate odds of 4 to i were laid on his
mount, a three-year-old son of Count Schomberg named
Blind Hookey, who afterwards had a long career as a
hurdler. Bahadur, contemptuously regarded, on off^er
at 50 to I, scored with some ease. Afterwards running
in the name of King Edward he was twice placed for the
Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown. I do not think
there is anything special to be said about Thowl Pin.
Reverting once more to the Steeplechase Calendar the
summary of the race runs " Dutch Pennant, All Gold
IL, Blow Pipe, Thowl Pin, Another Delight, Bally-
hackle, Jacobus and Ilston fell, Fetlar's Pride refused,
Bloodstone and Diplomatist IL ran out. Regent broke
down." Ilston had acquired the habit of falling at
Liverpool, and seldom if ever failed to observe it. As
for Thowl Pin it will be perceived that he had by no
means redeemed his promise, never having won any-
thing since his first appearance. He tried again in the
Sefton, in which, however, he again fell, and though on
several occasions he came near to success the following
season, he never quite attained it. At Kempton —
though this to be strictly accurate was still in 19 14 —

119

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Lutteur III. eave him 12 lb. and beat him fifteen
lengths ; but I think luck was against Thowl Pin at
Sandown when he gave Cortigan's Pride 8 lb. and ran
her to a neck for the Ewell Handicap Steeplechase. He
was second again for a steeplechase at Folkestone,
giving the winner, Rubenstein, 91b., second the third
time running for the Byfleet Handicap Steeplechase at
Sandown, and in 191 5 had one more try in the National.

1914. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)
£3515 ; about 4 miles 856 yds.

Mr. T. Tyler's Sunloch, by Sundorne,

9 St. 7 lbs. W. J. Smith i

M. H. de Mumm's Trianon III., a.

11 St. 9 lbs. C. Hawkins 2

M. James Hennessy's Lutteur III., a.

12 St. 6 lbs. A. Carter 3

Mr. P. Whitaker's Rory O'Moore, a.

1 1 St. 8 lbs. Mr. P. Whitaker 4

Mr. G. Lambard's Bahadur, a. 9 st. 12 lbs. - Mr. R. H. Hall 5
Mr. R. Whitehead's Couvrefeu II., a.

list. 7 lbs. Mr. J. Anthony 6

Major Cliff's Great Cross, a. 1 1 st. - - Mr. O. Anthony 7

Sir C. Assheton-Smith'sCovertcoat, a. 12 St. P. Woodland 8

Mr. C. Bower Ismay's Bloodstone, a.

1 1 St. 7 lbs. F. Lyall

Mr. N. B. Davis's Diplomatist II., a.

9 St. 7 lbs. Mr. N. Davis

Mr. K. F. Malcomson's Ballyhackle, a.

12 St. fell Mr. H. Ussher

Capt. H. Wyndham's Another Delight, a.

II St. 7 lbs. fell G. Brown

120

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Mr. F. Bibby's Thowl Pin, a. lOst. lO lbs. fell Isaac Morgan
Mr. A. Shepherd's Blowpipe, a. 10 st.

3 lbs. fell H. Bletsoe

Sir Geo. Bullough's listen, 6 y.

lost. 12 lbs. .... fell I.Anthony

Sir Geo. Bullough's Regent, a. 10 st.

12 lbs. b.d. Mr. H. Drake -

Mr. C. Bower Ismay's Jacobus, a. ii st.

21 lbs. fell E. Piggott

Sir J. D. Tichborne's All Gold II., a.

10 St. 7 lbs. fell Capt. Stokes

Capt. Crawshay's Dutch Pennant, a.

10 St. 5 lbs. fell A. Parnham

Mr. B. C. Pearson's Fetlar's Pride, a.

lost. 21 lbs. .... ref. D. Dale

Winner trained by Tyler.

7/i Covertcoat, lO/i Lutteur III, Ilston, 12| Trianon III.,
100/7 Ballyhackle, 100/6 Sunloch, Jacobus, Bloodstone, 20/1
Couvrefeu II., Rory O'Moore, 25/1 Blowpipe, 33/ 1 Another
Delight, Regent, Thowl Pin, Bahadur, 50/1 others.

Won by 8 lengths, same second and third. Time, 9 min.
58 1 sees.

At the end of this year the horses were confided to
the care of Mr. Bibby's old friend Mr. F. E. With-
ington at that home of racing tradition, Danebury.

1915

This year Mr. Bibby had a second runner, The Babe,
whom he had acquired before its first appearance on a
racecourse, which was in a Novices' Hurdle Race at

121

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Ludlow in 1912, the son of Karma and Cute being then
a four-year-old. He encountered Col. Lort-Phillips's
Sweet HacknesSj a well bred daughter of Hackler and
Sweet Coquette, who started favourite and beat the colt
by a couple of lengths. The Babe did not run over
fences that season, though he was out two or three times
in hurdle races, his first attempt in a steeplechase being
at Sandown the following February, when he was
apparently not expected to win and created no surprise ;
but as a five-year-old he gratified his owner by standing
up for the Stanley Steeplechase at the Liverpool Spring
Meeting. He was not at all fancied, but nine of the
eleven starters fell or refused, Ilston and Jacobus
amongst them, and The Babe followed Lord Derby's
Axle Pin safely at a distance of four lengths. This was
certainly encouraging, for to jump Liverpool was just
what he was specially required to do, and in the autumn
he again exhibited his capacity in this direction by
winning the Valentine Steeplechase, he being the only
one of half a dozen starters who did not fall — unless to
be meticulously accurate I note that Flaxseed was
pulled up.

The year 19 15 was and will always be memorable for
the fact that the last Liverpool prior to the break, the
last for a number of years which at the time of writing
cannot be specified, took place in its proper home. At
this period racing in general was rather chaotic. It was
understood that a number of meetings would be can-

122

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

celled, Ascot, Goodwood and Doncaster among them,
and that there would be certain extra fixtures at New-
market to compensate, so far as compensation was
possible ; but what would happen the following year
with regard to the National, or to an imitation of it,
remained in the clouds. Few men were so pessimistic
as to believe that racing had for ever finished at Aintree,
still there was no denying the uncertainty of the outlook,
and it may be that owners were specially eager to win
what would be in all probability the last race over the
old course at any rate for an indefinite period. In 19 13
as already described Irish Mail, the property of Mr.
H. Tyrwhitt Drake, had run second to Covertcoat, and
shortly after the race Sir Charles Assheton-Smith evinced
a determination to buy the son of King's Messenger
which was not to be resisted. He was above all things
keen to carry off three consecutive Liverpools and thus
to establish a record which he believed could never be
broken, especially as a third consecutive success would
have been a fourth victory, seeing that Cloister had
scored in 1893. He was prepared to pay more than
Irish Mail was worth, and was hugely pleased with his
bargain in the Spring of the year.

It is seldom in my experience that an owner does not
think his fancied animal has at least a few pounds too
much weight, and the 10 st. 12 lb. allotted to Irish Mail
did not altogether satisfy Sir Charles, though I could
not see that it was excessive. This latter was the

123

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

general view. Irish Mail was at the top of his form.
In January he had won a steeplechase at Manchester, at
Hurst Park he had beaten Balscadden, Rory O'Moore
and Growler. It had of course been demonstrated that,
to revert to the familiar expression, he was a Liverpool
horse. No one could have been surprised to find him
on the morning of the race a strong favourite at 6 to i,
just preferred to Lord Marcus, about whose ability to
jump the fences some doubt existed. A grey horse
called Silver Top stood at 9 to i, a horse with rather an
interesting history. He had been hunted continuously
when one of his riders, feeling himself carried along at
a great pace, suggested that the horse appeared quite
likely to win a little steeplechase, and he was put into
training accordingly, thoroughly justifying the opinion
which had been formed of him, for he finished second
for the National Hunt Steeplechase of 19 14, and did
distinctly well in other events, though as was to be here
demonstrated a National was beyond his compass. That
good horse Balscadden, together with Lord Suffolk's
Father Confessor, were backed at 10 to i, followed in
the market by Bachelor's Flight and Ally Sloper.
Balscadden was one of those horses who could not be
put in the wrong place. He won races on the flat, races
to which class attached, two Newbury Cups among them,
won over hurdles and over fences alike, calling to mind
the achievements of Soliman, the son of St. Simon, of
Count Schomberg, of I should also add Wavelet's Pride.

124

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Such animals are rare and the more to be appreciated
when found.

Of The Babe I have already spoken, Mr. Bibby's
other runner in 191 5 being Thowl Pin once more. At
Liverpool it need hardly be said that there is always a
chance for a horse who can stay the distance and jump
the fences. In order to win, however, as a rule some-
thing more than Thowl Pin possessed in the matter of
pace is requisite, and probably on the whole he did as
well as could reasonably have been expected in finishing
fifth, giving a couple of pounds to the winner Lady
Nelson's Ally Sloper. It is not very often that we have
seen much of a finish for a National. Here, however,
Jacobus made a fight for it, and giving the winner 8 lb.
was only beaten a couple of lengths, third place being
filled by Father Confessor, a son of St. Gris, who had
looked dangerous when approaching the last fence, the
more so as one expected a son of his sire to produce a
turn of speed. A useful colt called Alfred Noble was
fourth just in front of Thowl Pin. A Colonial bred
animal called Bullawarra figured in this race. What-
ever else he did he was certain not to fall, his admirers
protested, but perhaps they did not realise what the
Aintree fences were, for he was one of an unusually
small number who this season came to grief. Ilston
did so ; I have previously noted that it was his habit,
and the jumps were also too much for Lord Marcus
and Balscadden. The Babe completed the course,

125

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT. AND CAP

without at any time during the contest raising hope of
his success. The Summer and Autumn meetings were
abandoned. Doubtless Mr. Bibby would have had
runners for the Becher, the Grand Sefton and Valentine
'Chases had they taken place. For the present there is
nothing for us but to look forward to the time when we
may again see the green and yellow jacket at Liverpool.

1915. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (Handicap)
of £3515 ; about 4 miles 856 yds.

Lady Nelson's Ally Sloper, by Travelling

Lad, 6 y. 10 st. 6 lbs. - - - Mr. J. R.Anthony i

Mr. C. Bower Ismay's Jacobus, a. 1 1 st. blun. A. Newey 2

Lord Suffolk's Father Confessor, 6 y.

9 St. 10 lbs, A. Aylin 3

Mr. T. H. Barnard's Alfred Noble, a.

10 St. 12 lbs. Hulme 4

Mr. F. Bibby's Thowl Pin, a. 10 st. 8 lbs. - W. J. Smith 5

Mr. A. Browne's Silver Top, a. 10 st. - Walkington 6
Mr. C. Bower Ismay's Balscadden, a.

list. 8 lbs. fell F. Lyall 7

Mr. A. Shepherd's Blow Pipe, a. lost. 4 lbs. W.Smith 8

Mr. N. J. Kelly's Hackler's Bey, a.

10 St. 2 lbs. Mr. H. Harrison 9

Mr. Eric Piatt's Irish Mail, a. 1 1 st. 12 lbs. - L. Brabazon

Sir Geo. Bullough's Distaff, a. 10 st. 10 lbs. E. Piggott

Mr. F. Bibby's The Babe, a. 10 st. - - R. Chadwick
Mr. K. F. Malcomson's Ballyhackle, a.

Ti St. 9 lbs. b.d. S. Avila

Mr. J. M. Niall's Bullawarra, a. Il st.

2 lbs. fell C. Hawkins -

Sir Geo. Bullough's Ilston, a. 1 1 st. 8 lbs. fell I. Anthony

126

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Lord Lonsdale's Lord Marcus, a. lO st.

3 lbs. fell G. Parfrement -

Mr. Adam Scott's St. Mathurin IL, a.

9 St. 10 lbs. fell T. Dunn

Sir Geo. Bullough's Denis Auburn, a.

9 St. 7 lbs. fell J, Reardon -

Mr. F. Barbour's Bachelor's Flight, a.

9 St. 8 lbs. fell H. Harty

Mr. G. Lambard's Bahadur, a. g st. y lbs. fell P. Roberts

Winner trained by Hastings.

6/1 Irish Mail, 7/1 Lord Marcus, 9/I Silver Top, lo/l Father
Confessor, Balscadden, ii/i Bachelor's FHght, I2| Ally Sloper,
14/1 Bullawarra, 25/1 Jacobus, Alfred Noble, Distaff, 33/1 Denis
Auburn, Ilston, Thowl Pin, 40/1 Hackler's Bey, 50 others.
Places proportionate.

Won by 2 lengths, 8 lengths between second and third.

Time, 9 min. 47| sees.

1916

Sport under National Hunt Rules was only permitted
on a limited number of courses in England in the year
1 91 6, at Gatwick, Hawthorn Hill, Lingfield and
Windsor, together with a couple of fixtures at Colwall
Park, a minor affair. A strong feeling existed to the
effect that if we were not to have a National something
as nearly as possible approaching to it ought certainly
to be organised, and the business was energetically taken
in hand by Mr. F. W. Cathcart, representing the firm
of Pratt & Co. He may be described as manager of
Gatwick, and at length it was arranged that a "War

127

GREEN: YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT. AND CAP

National " as the race was to be called, should be decided
on the Surrey course on the 2ist March, much about
the usual time, it will be seen. What in the circum-
stances must be regarded as an excellent entry was
obtained, indeed it may be assumed that the horses
nominated were much about the same as those who
would have figured at Aintree but for the regrettable
lapse. Of the one and twenty who went to the post
seven who had competed for the last real Liverpool were
included, to run now over a course specially prepared
for the event. All the fences were built up to formid-
able dimensions, some new ones also being constructed,
and the Liverpool distance was observed to a fraction,
4 miles 856 yards, every pains being taken to make the
substitute as worthy as possible of the original. Some
experienced trainers and jockeys argued, in fact, that
severe as Aintree is the new course at Gatwick was
certainly not less so, if not absolutely more so ; for the
reason that there were fewer turns in Surrey, and except
for the expanse of galloping ground at Liverpool from
the start to the first fence, longer stretches between
jumps.

On the whole the field in 19 16 can scarcely be
considered much below the average, seeing that two of
the seven who reappeared were the winner and second
of the previous season, Ally Sloper and Jacobus, the
former being made favourite at 9 to 2, with Lord
Marcus, in spite of the number of times he had dis-

128

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

appointed his friends, at 1 1 to 2, Thowl Pin, who
was Mr. Bibby's sole representative, sharing third
favouritism with Denis Auburn at 8 to i. This it will
be seen implies that great hopes were entertained of
Thowl Pin, who seemed to be by no means harshly
treated with lo st. i2 lb., 41b. more than he had carried
twelve months previously. The victor was found,
however, in Vermouth, a six-year-old who had started
his jumping career in particularly promising fashion, but
had hardly sustained his reputation. He had won two
of his three races as a four-year-old over hurdles, but as
a five-year-old, though he usually showed up, had only
been twice successful, one of his wins however having
been in the valuable Lancashire Steeplechase, which he
secured by eight lengths from the favourite Temple-
do wney.

Vermouth looked rather a small horse to jump the
big fences, but in this respect size is often deceptive.
For instance The Lamb, who carried off two Nationals,
is said to have been unusually small. Globule and
other good little ones could be mentioned. Vermouth
won by two lengths from Irish Mail, a horse whom
it was always difficult to make out after his second
to Covertcoat. I have spoken of him as favourite in
1915, it having been found that it was impossible to
get him to the post the previous year. What happened
to him in his last attempt at Aintree I have never been
able to make out. One moment he was moving freely,
I 129

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

clearing the fences in great style, the next moment he
was beaten, dropping out so suddenly that I fancied he
must have hit his leg or broken down. The handi-
cappers had always remained under the impression that
there were great possibilities about him, and at Gatwick
he had the substantial weight of 1 2 st. 5 lb., which meant
giving Vermouth 9 lb. He had, however, won his last
race. Thowl Pin, who had been under the charge of
Mr. F. E. Withington at Danebury, a place needless to
remark famous in Turf history, never greatly raised the
hopes of his friends. Perhaps the most remarkable
thing about the War National of 191 6 is that despite
the size of the jumps and the length of the course,
which would have excused horses for becoming tired
and so perhaps careless, only a single one of the one and
twenty fell. This was Stag's Head and he stood up
until two or three fences from home.

1916. GATWICK.

THE GRAND NATIONAL SUBSTITUTE, Race Course

Association Steeplechase (Handicap) of £1150; about

4 miles 856 yds.

Mr. P. F. Heybourn's Vermouth, by Barca-

daile, 6 y. list. 10 lbs. - - - J. Reardon I

Mr. Eric Piatt's Irish Mail, a. 12 st. 5 lbs. - C. Hawkins 2

Mr. H. C. Davey's Schoolmoney, a. 10 st. 2 lbs. A. Saxby 3

Mr. W. W. Vivian's Jacobus, a. 12 st. - A. Newey 4
Sir Geo. Bullough's Denis Auburn, a.

10 St. 7 lbs. E. Driscoll 5

Lady Nelson's Ally Sloper, a. 1 1 st. 1 3 lbs. - Mr. J. Anthony 6

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SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Mr. J. Ivall's Minster Vale, 6 y. list. - G. Calder 7

Sir W. Nelson's Couvrefeu II., a. 12 st. 7 lbs. F. Dainty 8

Mr. H. F. Malcomson's Ballyneety, a.

9 St. 7 lbs. W. J. Smith 9

Mr. F. Bibby's Thowl Pin, a. 10 st. 12 lbs. C. Kelly 10

Lord Lonsdale's Lord Marcus, a. 1 1 st. 13 lbs. G. Parfrement 1 1

Sir T. Dewar's Hackler's Bey, a. 11 st. - Mr. H. Harrison 12

Mr. F. S. Will's Eugenist, a. 1 1 st. 10 lbs. - H. Smyth

Mr. F. C. Parker's Lamentable, a. 1 1 st. i lb. S. B. Walkington -

Mr. F. W. Parnell's Strangways, a. 10 st. 4 lbs. T. Dunn

Mr. T. A. Edge's Lynchpin, a. 10 st. - J. Dillon

Sir W. W. Williams' Drumlane, a. 9 st. 10 lbs. Jno. Kelly

Mr. David Faber's Hesperus Magnus, a.

9 St. 10 lbs. J. East -

Sir Robert Wilmot's Fleur-de-Lys, a.

9 St. 7 lbs. W. Hives

Mr. J. R. Heaton's Bligh, a. 9 st. 7 lbs. - B. Roberts
Mr. G. P. Sanday's Stag's Head, a.

9 St. 7 lbs. fell W. Smith

Winner trained by J. M. Bell.

4J/1 Ally Sloper, 5J Lord Marcus, 8/1 Thowl Pin, Denis
Auburn, 12J/1 Vermouth, Hackler's Bey, 16/1 Jacobus, Eugenist,
20/1 Irish Mail, Stag's Head, 25/1 Lamentable, 33/1 School-
money, 40/1 Couvrefeu II., Minster Vale, 50/1 Ballyneety,
66/1 any other.

Won by 2 lengths, 6 lengths second and third. Only those
placed completed the course. Time, 10 min. 22 sees.

1917

Gatwick was again the scene in 191 7, when a field of
nineteen turned out, and it may be remarked that seven
of these had been out for the last Liverpool race. The

131

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

favourite was a six-year-old named Carrig Park, who
had taken kindly to the business though he had only
competed in unimportant events, and must have been
greatly overestimated. A big chestnut gelding named
Chang who followed him in the market was lacking in
class and weighted accordingly, having only a couple
of pounds above the minimum. Vermouth appeared
to be particularly well treated, having only as it were a
71b. penalty for winning in 19 16, but it was too much
for him. As for Thowl Pin it was so long since he had
done anything that his friends were inclined to despair,
and he figured among the " 40 to i others." The race
went to a good sportsman in Sir George Bullough by
the aid of Ballymacad, a son of Laveno, who had made
some name for himself on the flat, and of Ballymacarney,
already mentioned as the dam of several well known
'chasers including Ballyhackle. Ballymacad had never
been reckoned a good horse, prior to this Gatwick race
I cannot make out that he had won since the March of
1 91 2, a truly disheartening spell of failure ; but he had
been a distinctly useful five-year-old, and at the age of
eleven seemed to be tardily recovering a little of his
old form.

1917. GATWICK.

•• WAR NATIONAL " CHASE (Handicap) of £1065 ; 4 miles

856 yds.
Sir Geo. Bullough's Ballymacad, a. by

Laveno, 9 st. 12 lbs. - - - - E. Driscoll i

132

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Mr. F. S. Watts' Chang, a. 9 st. 9 lbs. -
Lady Nelson's Ally Sloper, a. ii st. lO lbs.
Mr. P. F. Heybourn's Vermouth, a. 12 st.

3 lbs. - - - - -
Mr. A. Shepherd's Blow Pipe, a, 10 st.
Mr. H. Denison's Queen Imaal, a. 1 1 st. 3 lbs.
Lord Suffolk's Father Confessor, a. il st.

7 lbs.

Lord Lonsdale's Yellow Chat, 6 y. ii st.
Mr. H. Trimmer's Charlbury, a. lO st. 6 lbs.
Major D. Dixon's Templedowney, a.

12 St. 7 lbs. fell

Mr. Eric Piatt's Irish Mail, a. 12 st. 4 lbs. -
Mr. E. W. Paterson's Limerock, a.

II St. 5 lbs. fell

Mr. H, Bottomley's Kenia, a. 10 st.

10 lbs. fell

Mr. Douglas Stuart's Carrig Park, a.

1 1 St. 6 lbs. fell

Sir T. Dewar's Hackler's Bey, a. 10 st. 1 1 lbs.
Mr. F. Bibby's Thowl Pin, a. 10 st. 9 lbs. -
Sir Geo. Bullough's Denis Auburn, a.

10 St. 4 lbs. fell

Mr. E. S. Wills' Grithorpe, a. 9 st. 7 lbs. -
Mr. G. P. Sanday's Fargue, a. 9 st. 10 lbs. fell

W. Smith 2

1. Anthony 3

J. Reardon 4

E. Lancaster 5

A. Newey 6

A. Aylin 7

G. Parfrement 8
J. Dillon

T. Hulme -

E. Piggott

W. J. Smith

A. Saxby -

Hawkins -

Capt. D. Rogers
C. Kelly

E. Burford

R. Smyth

Mr. H. A. Brown -

Winner trained by Hastings.

3J/1 Carrig Park, 5 J Chang, 100/12 Vermouth, Yellow Chat,
100/9 Ballymacad, 14/1 Limerock, 20/1 Ally Sloper, 25/1 Temple-
downey, Fargue, Queen Imaal, Irish Mail, 33/1 Kenia, 40/1
others.

Won by 8 lengths, 4 lengths second and third. Only those
placed completed the course. Time, 10 min. 12 1 sees.

133

GREEN: YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

1918

Perhaps it would be too much to say that Mr. Bibby
was unfortunate in not winning the War National of
191 8. At the same time with a little luck in his favour
instead of against him it may safely be asserted that his
chance was a really good one. The animal concerned
was Wavertree, a son of Wavelet's Pride and Kendal
Lily, seven years old when the race was run. His first
appearance in public was in the Suffolk Maiden Steeple-
chase at Windsor in 191 7, the race being named after
the late Lord Suffolk, an energetic patron of the sport
and a Member of the National Hunt Committee which
he had been instrumental in founding. Mr. Fred
Withington had converted Wavertree into an excellent
fencer. Probably he was not quite ready for this January
race, but a couple of months later on the same course
he easily won the three mile Brocas 'Chase, these two
being his only appearances as a six-year-old.

Next season, that is to say in 191 8, he was sent to
Gatwick to run for the Stewards' Handicap Steeple-
chase, the favourite for which was Sir George BuUough's
Ballymacad, who as just recorded had won the War
National the previous year. Wavertree carried only
I lb. less, the weights being 1 1 st. 3 lb. and 1 1 st. 2 lb.
respectively, and a closer finish is not imaginable. Sir
George Bullough, a most strenuous war-worker, has not
been on the race course since hostilities began. Lady

134

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Bullough was present, and I chanced to be next to her
on the Stewards' Stand as we watched the finish. Our
conviction was that Wavertree had won by something
like a neck, if not half" a length, and though naturally
disappointed, with characteristic kindness Lady Bullough
remarked that she " did not much mind being beaten
by Mr. Bibby." When Sir George became Master of
the Ledbury Hounds, it may be observed, he bought the
pack with which Mr. Bibby had for so long a time
hunted the North Shropshire. Instead of the number
of Wavertree which we so confidently looked for in the
frame Ballymacad's number was hoisted, the verdict in
his favour being a short head.

A few days afterwards Wavertree won the Stanley
Handicap Steeplechase at Sandown Park, another horse
of Sir George Bullough's, Simon the Lepper, being this
time second, and just one week later Wavertree ran
for the Staines Handicap Steeplechase at Windsor,
Here Mr. H. A. Brown was on his back, and three
fences from home the horse came down, having looked
very much like winning. As it happened I was in
correspondence at the time with Mr. Brown, who in
writing to me strongly advised me to back Wavertree
for the approaching National. The mishap was entirely
his fault, the rider stated, and declared that he had been
fairly holding Captain Dreyfus all the way, which meant
much ; for this horse had been doing particularly well
and was an exceptionally useful animal as a test of

135

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

capacity, for the reason that he always lay in front, dis-
regarding the weight he might have to carry. Waver-
tree seemed distinctly well in the War National, as
Ballymacad had to give him 5 lb. and there was practi-
cally nothing between them. If Mr. H. A. Brown's
estimate were correct Wavertree also should have beaten
Captain Dreyfus, for at Windsor there was 1 8 lb.
between them, at Gatwick Wavertree had an advantage
of 231b. The matter was never really put to the test,
as early in the race Wavertree was knocked over, his
jockey, Driscoll, losing his teeth as well as his seat.
Any idea of remounting and setting off in pursuit was
out of the question, and so ends the history of the
National up to the time of writing.

1918. GATWICK.

" WAR NATIONAL " STEEPLECHASE (Handicap) of £985 ;
4 miles 856 yds.

Mrs. H. Peel's Poethlyn, by Rydal Head,

a. 1 1 St. 6 lbs. ----- E. Piggott i

Mr. F. R. Hunt's Captain Dreyfus, a.

12 St. 7 lbs. J. Reardon 2

Sir Geo. Bullough's Ballymacad, a. 11 st.

3 lbs. Mr. L Anthony 3

Mr. Barclay Walker's Berneray, a. 10 st. 4 lbs. S. Avila 4

Mr. E. S. Wills' Mark Back, a. 10 st. 5 lbs. H. Smyth 5

Mr. F. S. Watt's Chang, a. 10 st. 2 lbs. - Mr. O. Casebourne 6
Mr. P. F. Heybourn's Vermouth, a. 11 st.

13 lbs. Mr. J. Anthony 7

Sir Geo. Bullough's Simon the Lepper, a.

10 St. R. Burford 8

136

SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S

Mr. T. M. M'Alpine's Shaun Spadah, a.

lost. II lbs. A. Stubbs

Mr. H. Trimmer's Charlbury, a. g st. lO lbs. J. Dillon
Mr. H. Denison's Queen Imaal, a. lOst. 7 lbs. A. Newey
Col. H. P. Burnyeat's Clear Money, 5 y.

II St. 2 lbs. fell Lieut. Pepper

Lady Nelson's Ally Sloper, a. 1 1 st. 9 lbs. - J. Walsh -

Mr. F. W. Parnell's Top Hole, a. 11 st.

2 lbs. .-.-.- p.u. C. Hawkins -

Capt. F, B. F. Bibby's Wavertree, a.

10 St. 12 lbs. . - - - fell E. Driscoll

Mr. Douglas Stuart's Sergeant Murphy, a.

10 St. 7 lbs. S. Walkington

Mr. H. Bottomley's Awbeg, a. 10 st. p.u. L. Jones -

Winner trained by Escott.

5/1 agst. Poethlyn, Wavertree, Ally Sloper, 7/1 Ballymacad,
lO/i Shaun Spadah, I2| Vermouth, Chang, 14/1 Berneray,
20/1 Captain Dreyfus, 33/1 Charlbury, 40/1 Mark Back, Ser-
geant Murphy, 50/1 Top Hole, Simon the Lepper, Queen Imaal,
lOO/i Awbeg, Clear Money.

Won by 4 lengths, bad third. Time, 9 min. 50? sees.

137

CHAPTER IV

THE NATIONAL HUNT, LANCASHIRE, AND GRAND
SEFTON STEEPLECHASES

So far we have only dealt with horses who have run at
Liverpool. Notably as the National stands out, how-
ever, for reasons which have been stated, there are other
special events success in which means reputation as well
as profit. The three chief ones are those at the head of
the chapter.

Perhaps there is no more sporting contest than the
National Hunt Steeplechase, which was instituted in
i860 and became an object of ambition with the best
class of steeplechase owner. Afterwards for a time it
flagged, indeed at Liverpool one year a field of only
three, hardly deserving the name of field, turned out,
truly a contrast to the revival, for at Cheltenham in 191 1
no fewer than thirty-eight went to the post. It may be
well to give the conditions of the first National Hunt
Steeplechase, which at that time had the prefix of
"Grand," presently to be dropped.

" The Grand National Hunt Steeplechase of 5 sovs.
each, with 300 sovs. added ; the second to receive

138

THE NATIONAL HUNT

50 sovs. out of the stakes ; for bona-fide hunters that
at the time of starting have never won any steeplechase,
hurdle race or flat race value 20 sovs., not including the
winner's own stake, and that have never started in a
handicap steeplechase or hurdle race up to the time of
starting; four-years-old lost. 10 lb. ; five, 12 st. lib. ;
six and aged 12 st. 10 lb. ; to be ridden by Gentlemen,
Farmers or Farmers' Sons who have never ridden for
hire ; four horses the property of different owners to
start or only half the added money will be given ; if
only three start the second money will be withheld, and
in the case of a walk over, only one fourth of the added
money will be given ; entrance 3 sovs. the only liability
for non-starters. About four miles."

The principle of the race remains, though some
alterations have been made in the conditions. The
distance has always been four miles, but the value has
been increased to £1000, which means ;^8i5 to the
winner, and the weights have been revised. A five-
year-old is seldom found in the entry. Horses of that
age now carry 11 st. 8 lb., six and aged i2st. 31b. As
only maidens are eligible there can be no question of
penalties or allowances.

With the detailed early history of the race we are not
now concerned. In the " Steeplechase " volume of the
Badminton Library, which I wrote more than thirty
years ago, I described the anxiety of Baron Rothschild
to win with a good jumper he then owned called Led-

139

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

burn, and it may be assumed that the anxiety of the
jockey, then known as " Mr. Roily," and later as Lord
Hardinge of Penshurst, for some years Viceroy of India,
was not less. " Mr. Roily " went down continually to
Mentmore to ride the horse in his work, but unfor-
tunately for the friends of Ledburn an opponent was
Schiedam, ridden by Mr. Richardson, who carried off
two Nationals on Disturbance and Reugny. Schiedam's
jockey has told me that this was the best horse he ever
rode, in spite of Disturbance's exceptional capacity.
Once when finishing a four mile steeplechase Schiedam
was so fresh that he playfully shied at a piece of paper
which had blown on to the course.

One reason why such a high opinion was entertained
of the National Hunt Steeplechase was doubtless
because apart from the National it was almost — for
several years it has been absolutely — the only race run
over fences of four miles. When things become normal
again, and 'chasing revives, as there is every reason to
think it must simply because so many people desire this
revival, the desirability of having more long races may
be expected to come up for discussion. There has been
a tendency of late years to shorten courses. Thus the
Ladies' Plate at Sandown, which used to be run over
three miles on the flat, an excellent test of staying, was
some time since shortened to two miles and a half. One
of the National Hunt rules provides that " There shall
be in each day's programme at least two steeplechases,

140

THE NATIONAL HUNT

one of which must be of three miles or upwards." That
is not unsatisfactory so far as it goes, but steeplechases
of more than three miles are extremely rare, I think
others are needed and three and a half miles as just
remarked is with two exceptions at present the limit, so
far as my memory serves. There may be longer ones
at some minor sporting fixtures.

In Mr. Bibby's first year, 1899, he had a runner in
the National Hunt Steeplechase, a mare called Fille
d' Amour, Mr. A. W. Wood, son I believe of a Lincoln-
shire parson, in the saddle. She was only a four-year-
old. It will be noticed in the original conditions that
animals of this age used to be eligible, though they are
so no longer, and it may be observed that it is one of
the most remarkable things about French racing that an
extraordinary number of four-year-olds have won the
four mile Grand Steeplechase de Paris and run up for it.
I have no doubt that later in life Fille d'Amour did duty
in Mr. Bibby's hunting stable : she never won a race.
It should have been noted that the National Hunt
Steeplechase was a movable feast. The rule used to be
for Clerks of Courses to send in their tenders to be
considered at a general meeting of the Committee, the
applications stating what sum, if any, the directors of
the course were prepared to add. I believe ;^25o was
the lowest amount ever offered in the early days when
this practice was in vogue.

In 1899 the bid of Hurst Park was accepted, and the

141

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

race went to a good five-year-old named Glen Royal,
ridden by Mr. Fergusson. Glen Royal started favourite
in a field of twenty-two.

Kempton Park was the scene in 1900, when only ten
ran. Mr Bibby was not represented. Again a five-
year-old was successful, Eoos by name, winning by a
neck from a four-year-old named Spiddal, belonging to
Mr. Reginald Mainwaring who for so many years
officiated as handicapper. There was an almost even
money favourite this year in Easter Ogue, a six-year-old
son of Ascetic, sire of so many successful steeplechasers
— and reputed sire of a great many others, or so it is
generally suspected. The story at least used to be that
if an owner in Ireland had a horse to sell he would
represent the animal to be the offspring of this son of
Hermit. I do not think that anyone except Reggie
Mainwaring had any idea that Spiddal would run so
well. My old friend, however, was one of those for-
tunate persons who gratify themselves with the notion
that everything they possess is superior to the posses-
sions of anybody else. This was not only the case with
his horses. I remember strolling about his Newmarket
garden one day when he explained to me that no one
else had ever been able to grow such glorious sweet peas,
and that the blackbird who was hopping about beneath
them was the sort of bird no one would ever see else-
where. When Spiddal came so near to success his
owner's crowing seemed not without justification.

142

THE NATIONAL HUNT

In 1 901 the National Hunt Meeting took place at
Melton, and Mr. Bibby was not disposed to be without
a runner over that sporting course. On this occasion
seventeen went to the post, the colours about which I
am writing being carried by Colleger, a four-year-old
son of Narellan or The Penman, ridden by " Mr. Deer,"
a name which disguised the identity of Mr. Harrison.
Considering that, as aforesaid, the runners were all
maidens, it is somewhat remarkable that out of the
seventeen the first and second favourites, Friar John and
Castleknock, both five-year-olds, should have finished
first and second. It may be noted that eleven of the
seventeen were of this age. About Friar John Colonel
Lort-Phillips has very kindly sent me an interesting
story, which I am the more inclined to give as it deals
with two other famous animals, Kirkland and Mr.
Quilp. I may quote from Mr. Phillips's letter. He
writes as follows — "I only wanted one horse, as Frank
Bibby and I had not launched out at that time. Barclay
Walker, with whom I was staying in Ireland, asked me
if I would buy him a couple of 'chasers and keep them
for him, which I consented to do if I could satisfy myself
that they were worth buying. I proceeded to Charle-
ville, which place I generally made a centre from which
to go and see various horses, and I generally took about
a week looking over from twenty to forty young ones
who seemed to show promise. The first horse I saw
was Kirkland, and oddly enough I had a letter in my

143

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

pocket from Reid Walker saying that he had bought a
nice young four-year-old of this name. As soon as 1
saw the horse I liked him, but I presently perceived that
he was lame and guessed that he had been spun by Reid
Walker's vet. after he had written to me. This turned
out to be the case, and had the effect of bringing the
price down from the ^800 which Reid Walker was to
have given to the ;^45o which I gave. Of course I did
not take Kirkland until I discovered what was wrong
with him. My vet. could find nothing except a slight
thrush, and as I had a great many other horses to see
the vet. advised the application of a hardening lotion
to the frog, which would temporarily make the animal
sound supposing it were thrush from which he was
suff^ering.

On my return a week later he was quite sound, and
so I bought him. In the meantime I had seen a little
horse win a race at Newcastle, and this one struck me
as I think no other animal I had seen in Ireland had
ever done. He was as fat as a bullock, and blew terribly
after winning his little race. I felt I could not leave
him, but I did not close the bargain for some days, as I
thought the price, .;^45o, excessive for so small a horse.
I afterwards refused two offers of ;6'3000 for him, as
Barclay Walker would not sell. I therefore had
obtained him and Kirkland, but I had not been able
to find a third that I thought it desirable to purchase.
The above mentioned little horse was Mr. Quilp.

144

THE NATIONAL HUNT

I then went to stay near Dublin and spent some days
looking round about that district, which I knew well,
hoping to come across a second horse that would do for
Barclay Walker. I found only one that I cared about,
and as the owner and breeder said he would not take
less than ;^900 I hesitated, writing to Barclay Walker
to say I thought the price too high for an untried horse.
He, however, said 'buy,' so I did. This was Friar
John. My purchases therefore that summer were Friar
John, Kirkland and Mr. Quilp. Mr. Quilp I may add
ought certainly to have won the Great Metropolitan at
Epsom, but the jockey entirely misunderstood the
instructions I gave him."

I mention ail this because we are discussing the
National Hunt Steeplechase which Friar John won in the
hands of Mr. Sydney, the second, Castleknock, being
ridden by Mr. H. S. Persse, the Stockbridge trainer
who was so often prominent in this 'chase.

Mr. Persse won it in 1 902 on Marpessa, a very useful
son of Marmaton who afterwards passed intO' the pos-
session of Major Eustace Loder, and secured for him
the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown amongst
other races. Mr. Bibby ran a grey five-year-old named
Frosty. The meeting was held at Warwick, Mr.
Sidney rode, twenty-three starters, and I may perhaps
add that " Mr. Deer," who so often wore the colours,
had this year kindly undertaken to ride one of the
horses I had bought and was managing for my nephew
•^ 145

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

— Brown Ewe, a son of Brown Prince and Lambthorpe,
half sister to Lambay a very useful horse belonging to
the then Captain Murray-Thriepland. She was not as
good as she looked, and Frosty though backed at lo to
I, a short price in the circumstances, was never
prominent.

But next year Mr. Bibby's luck was in the ascendant.
I have already dealt with Comfit in connection with the
Liverpool, but omitted description of this previous
exploit. Mr. Bibby had only given ;^I25 for the son
of Butterscotch, who made his first appearance on any
course in this National Hunt Steeplechase, held again
at Warwick, and starting at an outside price, unmen-
tioned by name in the betting, indeed, beat seventeen
opponents without difl^culty in the hands of Captain
R. H. Collis. He by no means surprised his owner
and trainer, who fully realised what a good animal he
was. There was a strong favourite this year in Con-
naught, a five-year-old son of that good steeplechaser
Royal Meath. As little as 1 1 to 4 was taken about him,
and after falling and being remounted he finished fourth.
Frosty was another of the numerous fallers and not
long afterwards came to a tragic end. He was sent to
Liverpool to run for the Valentine Steeplechase, and
fell at the first fence. Mason speedily remounted.
There were only two others in the field. Flying Swallow
and Patlander, and Frosty was not long in getting on
terms with them. It looked, indeed, as if he had won

146

,»

'^^y

THE NATIONAL HUNT

his race, when on reaching the fence at which he had
fallen he again came down heavily and broke his neck.
The top of a culvert, just where the horse took off to
jump, was broken.

1903. THE NATIONAL HUNT STEEPLECHASE of £825,
for the first, £100 for the sec, £50 for the third, and £25 for
the fourth ; for maidens ; 4 yrs. old 10 st. 10 lbs., five
12 St. I lb., six and aged 12 st. 10 lbs. ; entrance £10 or
;^5 if dec. ; four miles and about 150 yds., starting and
finishing on the Race-course (45 subs. 18 of whom declared
ft.-£8i5).
Mr. F. Bibby's Comfit, by Butterscotch,

5 y. 12 St. I lb.

Mr. B. Sheriff's Alston's Pride, 5 y.

12 St. I lb.

Mr. A. D. H. Law's Miss Clifden II ,

12 St. 10 lbs. - . - - .
Ld. Cadogan's Connaught, 5 y. 12 st. i lb
Mr. G. Wright's Smiling Morn, 5 y

12 St. I lb.

Mr. Walter Winans' Blackthorn II., 6 y
12 St. 10 lbs. - . . . ,

Mr. H. R. Rape's Randle, a. 12 st. 10 lbs.
Mr. F. Bibby's Frosty, 6 y. 12 st. 10 lbs. •
Mr. Atherton Brown's Mellin, a. 12 st. 10 lbs. Mr. Rasbotham
Mr. J. Cannon's Chief Warder, a. 12 st.

10 lbs.

Mr. E. Cookson's Erin's Aid, 6 y. 12 st.

10 lbs.

Capt. St. G. Daly's Wamba, 6 y. 12 st.

10 lbs.

Mr. C. A. Hartley's Shillyshally, a. 12 st.
10 lbs. -

Capt. R. H. Collis i

Mr. W. Bissill 2

Mr. H. M. Ripley 3
Mr. H. Persse 4

Mr. J. Adams, Jr. 5

Mr. Buckland
Owner
Mr. Deer

Mr. A. Gordon

Mr. Coker

Mr. A. Hastings
Mr. J. Tomlinson

147

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT. AND CAP

Mr. F. S. Leuw's Mac, a. 12 st. 10 lbs. - Owner
Mr. R. K. Mainwaring's Maresco, 6 y.

12 St. 10 lbs. Mr. A. W. Wood -

Duke of Westminster's Etona, a. 12 st.

10 lbs. Mr. C. Garnett

Mr. Louis W. Winans' Cork II., a. 12 st.

10 lbs. Mr. M. Nichols

Mr. A. Gorham's Blisworth, 5 y. 12 st. i lb. Mr. B. Bletsoe

Winner trained by Thomas.

1 1/4 agst. Connaught, 5/1 Miss Clifden II., 7/1 Maresco,
8/1 Alston's Pride, lo/i Wamba, 100/8 Frosty, Chief Warder,
Randle.

Won by 8 lengths, six lengths second and third ; only those
placed completed the course. Time, 1 1 min.

Colonel Phillips has also kindly sent me a detailed
account of Comfit's National Hunt Steeplechase, which
must not be omitted.

" I always believed, and believe still, that Frosty had
in him the makings of a great 'chaser. He was a
beautiful grey horse of good size and quality. I bought
him at one of the Tattersall Sales at Newmarket, as a
two or a three-year-old, I forget which, for 60 guineas,
and he did so well at home that we kept him for the
National Hunt 'Chase of 1903, asking 'Mr. Deer'
(David Harrison of Tenby) to ride him. We had
Comfit also in the race, and had asked Captain CoUis
to ride this one. I thought Comfit would run well,
but pinned my faith to Frosty, and should have preferred
to put Collis on him if I had thought that Harrison

THE NATIONAL HUNT

could have held Comfit. The orders were for Frosty to
go to the front and for Comfit to wait on him. No
sooner had the flag fallen than Comfit jumped off with
a lead, while Frosty was about the last to get away.
The third fence was a particularly nasty one, a very
badly made open ditch with a deep take-off. I expected
grief at this point. Comfit, who would have jumped
at a house, led over it, five or six horses following him
cleared it all right, but then two or three refused and
broke the rail. The ditch was full of them, and among
the lot was Frosty, who had no right to be where he
was. Comfit won, but I still believe we had a better
horse in Frosty.

After he had run conspicuously at Hooton for the
Cheshire Autumn 'Chase we sent him to Liverpool to
run for the Valentine. There had been a great deal
of rain and part of the course was flooded. Mason
was to ride him, and for some reason — probably he was
late, which, however, was very unlike him — he did not
walk the course as the other jockeys had done. Starting
below the stand and approaching the second fence Frosty
on the left took a very heavy fall, but Mason,
undaunted, remounted him, set off" in pursuit, and
actually caught the others before they had got to the
Canal Turn. Then he waited on them, and to my
horror approached the same fence at which he had fallen
at exactly the same place again. The horse turned a
complete somersault and broke his neck. On examin-

149

GREEN: YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT, AND CAP

ing the spot it was quite evident that the flood had
extended to that corner of the fence, and each time
Frosty had taken ofl^ out of a regular bog. I think the
loss of this horse was the greatest blow I ever had
'chasing, not forgetting Comfit's fall in the National
when leading, when he broke his shoulder. Odd we
should lose both those horses at Liverpool, which I have
always considered my luckiest course ! "

At the beginning of the century much was thought
of a big black gelding named Timothy Titus. Season
after season he was backed for the National, the fancy
for him being largely due to the circumstance that he
won the National Hunt Steeplechase at Cheltenham in
1904. He was sufficiently well bred, being a son of
the Gold Cup winner Timothy, and was much fancied,
starting at 5 to i, on a level with a mare named Miss
Clifden II., who was considered, and with reason, just
the sort of animal for this particular event. It has been
a peculiarity of the National Hunt that when a par-
ticularly hot favourite has been produced it has almost
invariably been beaten, and this was the case here, the
short odds of 7 to 2 being taken about Loch Lomond,
another animal of unimpeachable breeding, he having
been by Blairfinde. Mr. Bibby sent two this year, Billy
Balsam and Pinchbeck, both five-year-olds, ridden by
Mr. A. W. Wood and " Mr. Deer " respectively. Billy
Balsam was taken to be the better of the pair, neither,
however, being good enough to show up prominently.

150

THE NATIONAL HUNT

Billy Balsam was a son of Avington, winner of the
Kempton Park Jubilee of 1894. In 1905 Cheltenham
was again chosen, and Miss Clifden II. showed that
there had been good reason for selecting her the previous
year.

Mr. Bibby ran nothing, nor had he a representative
at Warwick in 1906, when Count Rufus beat a field
of twenty-eight. It looked indeed as if Warwick had
become what may be called the headquarters of the
National Hunt, for the race was run there again in 1907
and also for the three following celebrations, in 1907
Mr. Farrant being rewarded for perseverance by the
victory of Red Hall. This was just the sort of success
that had been contemplated when the National Hunt
Steeplechase was first started, the triumph of a good
hunter, ridden and trained by his owner, the only thing
to be said against this idea being that if the owner in
question is a welter weight he is debarred from the
privilege of steering his own animal. This year Mr.
Bibby ran Wickham, Captain CoUis up.

Red Hall though a genuine hunter was certainly
sufficiently well bred, a son of Winkfield, who was by
Barcaldine, this last named one of the very few animals
in racing history who was never beaten, indeed there are
some critics who maintain that a better than Barcaldine
has never been known. Robert Peck to whom he
belonged certainly had the highest opinion of the horse,
though oddly enough he was earnestly cautioned against

151

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

buying him by Fred Archer, who had ridden Barcaldine
a gallop and declared that "he could not stride over a
straw." Peck saw what was lacking in the horse's con-
dition, and built him up, so that as a five-year-old
he proved the wisdom of his owner, winning the
Northumberland Plate, ridden by Archer who had found
reason to alter his opinion, with the heavy burden of
9 St. lolb., the last of the four races he contested in
1883, he having previously beaten Tristan, a Goodwood
Cup winner, and others at Kempton. I have a long
letter from Robert Peck giving a full history of Barcal-
dine, but it would scarcely perhaps be pertinent to quote
it here. Wickham was also notably well bred, his sire
Childwick having been a son of St. Simon and
Plaisanterie, winner of the Cesarewitch and Cambridge-
shire of 1885. Sir J. Blundell Maple paid 6000 guineas
for Childwick as a yearling, the highest price that had
ever been given at that period. Wickham was sixth
for the National Hunt, only eight of the twenty-seven
starters having completed the course, and the following
season he flattered his friends until the last fence had
been jumped.

The favourite in 1908 was Captain J. F. Laycock's
Rory O'Moore, a son of Royal Meath. Rory O'Moore
did excellent service for his owner for several years, and
so much was thought of him at Warwick that as little
as 4 to I was taken about him, in face of a demand for
another of Mr. Bibby's in addition to Wickham, a

152

THE NATIONAL HUNT

six-year-old son of St. Gris, called Breemount. Bree-
mount started at 5 to i, being practically as good a
favourite as Rory O'Moore, Mr. Cuthbertson in the
saddle. He had been out twice previously, second for
a Maiden Steeplechase at Newbury, and second again
on the same course a month later. The idea was that
he would prove better than his stable companion, which
turned out to be a mistake, Captain Collis on Wickham
having been the only danger to Rory O'Moore.

1908. NATIONAL HUNT STEEPLECHASE of £815
150 yards.

4 miles

Mr. P. Whitaker
Capt. R. H. Collis

Mr. J. T, Rogers

Mr. J. R. Anthony

Capt. J. F. Laycock's Rory O'Moore, by

Royal Meath, 6 y. 12 st. 3 lbs.
Mr. F. Bibby's Wickham, a. 12 st. 3 lbs.
Mr. Romer-Williams' Captain Morgan,

a. 12 St. 3 lbs.

Mr. J. W. PhiHpps' Davy Jones, 5 y.

11 St. 8 lbs.

Mr. E. Holland's Potheen H., a. 12 st. 3 lbs. Mr. E. Holland
Mr. J. L. Cross' Kennet, a. 12 st. 3 lbs. - Mr. H. S. Harrison
Mr. A. Scott's Redeswire, a. 12 st. 3 lbs. - Mr. T. R. Scott
Mr. G. Reynolds' Siberia H., a. 12 st. 3 lbs. Mr. G. Reynolds
Lord Aberdour's Bunting, a. 12 st. 3 lbs. Mr. T. E. Brooks
Mr. F. Barbour's Royal Heart, a. 12 st.

3 lbs.

Mr. F. Bibby's Breemount, 6 y. 12 st.

3 lbs.

Capt. W. C. Elwes' Sir Patrick H., a.

12 St. 3 lbs.

Capt. P. A. Kenna's Twister H., a.

12 St. 3 lbs.

153

Mr. F. Barbour
Mr. N. Cuthbertson
Mr. H. M. Ripley
Capt. Pilcher

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. J. Nelson's Royal Monk II., a.

12 St. 3 lbs. Mr. J. H. Nelson

Mr. M. Nickalls' Bald Eagle, a. 12 st. 3 lbs. Mr. M. Nickalls
Mr. W. Paul's Finella, a. 12 st. 3 lbs. - Mr. W. Paul
Mr. E. M. Robinson's Willowtit, a.

12 St. 3 lbs. Mr. P. A. Poole

Mr. F. C. Stern's Mainsail II., a. 12 st. 3 lbs. Mr. Flint

Mr. W. Walker's Royston II., a. 12 st. 3 lbs. Mr. C. P. Stedall -

Mr. G. H. Warren's Harkaway VIII., a.

12 St. 3 lbs. Mr. R. de Crespigny -

Mr. Wadsworth's Philiron, 6 y. 12 st. 3 lbs. Mr. A. Gordon
Mr. Wilkinson's The Swell IV., a.

12 St. 3 lbs. Mr. J. Walster

Mr. Rigby Wright's Noble Bentinck, a.

12 St. 3 lbs. Mr. R. Wright

Mr. A. Scott's Fitzrush, 5 y. 1 1 st. 8 lbs. Mr. A. Scott
Mr, Basil Hanbury's Kineton, 5 y.

list. 8 lbs. .... fell Mr. W. Bulteel
Mr. Delagarde's Dick Phenyl, 6 y.

12 St. 3 lbs. - . . . fell Mr. R. Bruce
Mr. W. E. L. Eccles' St. Barbe, a.

12 St. 3 lbs. .... fell Mr. W. Eccles
Mr. B. Parry's Gillow, a. 12 st. 3 lbs. fell Mr. E. Brain

Winner trained by Whitaker.

4/1 Rory O'Moore, 5/1 Breemount, 8/1 Captain Morgan, I2|/i
Wickham, Kineton, 100/7 PhiHron, Potheen II., Davy Jones,
20/1 Finella, Royston II., Siberia II., 25 others.

Won by 6 lengths, 8 lengths second and third. Time, 10 min.
27 sees.

The following season the green and yellow jacket was
carried by Gloom, Captain Collis once more doing duty.
Something was thought of this horse as he started fourth

154

THE NATIONAL HUNT

favourite at 8 to i. Prior to Warwick he had run at
Hurst Park against the Liverpool winner of 1906,
Ascetic's Silver, but had fallen in the race. Two more
fancied animals were Wychwood and Glen Rex, who
finished first and third, Major Purvis on Our Philip
intervening.

Gloom at any rate safely completed the course,
the judge placing eight on that occasion, of which
number Mr. Bibby's was last. Glen Rex belonged to
Lady Walker, wife of Sir Peter Walker, who was such
an enthusiastic patron of 'cross country sport, enjoying
it all the more as his horses were trained in his own
park, I happened to have been staying at Osmaston
shortly before the race, and know what a high opinion
was entertained of this son of Enthusiast of Glen-
vannon. But the National Hunt usually takes a great
deal of winning. In 1900 when Nimble Kate won,
Mr. Bibby ran nothing, nor did he send anything to the
post in 1 90 1 when the race was transferred to Chelten-
ham, and a huge field of thirty-eight competed, a record
number. The Cheltenham course had been reorganised,
and particular interest attached to the gathering. From
the hill on which the stands are built a perfect view is to
be had of the entire contest, except when the horses are
at the back of the buildings ; and those visitors who
are privileged to watch from a tower room devoted to
the Stewards and their friends are able to see ever}'
fence. What they did see on this occasion was a great

155

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

many falls, there having been a considerable amount of
disaster at the first jump.

Sir Halbert, the property of Captain Grissell himself
in former days a successful rider, particularly in India,
landed in the hands of Mr. A. Smith after a thrilling
finish with Major Purvis on Our Philip. As a rule the
National Hunt Steeplechase is won by a substantial
margin, this time it was only the matter of a neck, and
as I remember the race, of what looked a very short one.
Though as already noted Mr. Bibby was without a
runner the Lawrenny stable was represented by Col.
Lort-Phillips's Misalliance II., a five-year-old mare who
never I think won a race, and was sent to Germany.
The National Hunt seemed to have been permanently
transferred to Cheltenham, at least the meeting was held
there for the following four years until its abandonment
in consequence of the war. In 191 2 Mr. Bibby did not
contribute to the field of thirty-one, when the race was
taken by The Rejected IV., in 1913 Col. Lort-Phillips
ran Carew, but gained an indirect success, as the winner,
Kransfiagl was aison of his horse Missel Thrush. In 19 14
Col. Phillips ran a five-year-old named Tod, the race
being taken by War Dupe. In 191 5 the Cheltenham
stand had been utilised as a hospital and a not incon-
siderable proportion of the spectators wore the blue
garb of the wounded soldier. It was evident that they
vastly enjoyed the spectacle, some of those who had not
recovered sufficiently to move about the enclosures

156

THE NATIONAL HUNT

gazing eagerly from the foot of their beds. Neither
Mr. Bibby nor Col. Phillips was represented, but at last
Major Purvis fulfilled his ambition, taking the race on a
grey gelding called Martial IV. That is the history of
the event up to the present time, and one can only look
anxiously for its renewal.

An important race which Mr. Bibby carried off at the
National Hunt Meeting of 19 14 is worthy of detailed
mention as follows :

1914. CHELTENHAM.

NATIONAL HUNT HANDICAP CHASE, of £832 ; 3 J miles.

Mr. F. Bibby's Red Coil, by Wavelet's

Pride, a. 10 st. 7 lbs. - - - - I. Morgan i

Mr. M. B.Smith's Dark Collar, a. lost. 6 lbs. Avila 2

Mr. W. H. P. Rees' Celerity, a. 1 1 st. 6 lbs. Mr. J. R. Anthony 3
Mr. W. F. Stratton's Roman Candle, a.

10 St. 4 lbs. (4 ex.) .... Walkington 4

Major Cliff's Great Cross, a. 1 1 st. 9 lbs. - T. Hulme 5

Lady Nelson's Ally Sloper, 5 y. 1 1 st. 2 lbs.

(4 ex.) A. Smith 6

Mr. C. W. C. Henderson's Shaun Ore, a.

10 St. 3 lbs. J. Lyall 7

Mr. C. Bower Ismay's Wilkinstown, a.

11 St. 9 lbs. Alf. Aylin

Mr. F. S. Francis' Bridge IV., a. 1 1 st. 6 lbs. Mr. G. Poole
Mr. H. La Montagne's Hugomart, 6 y.

10 St. 10 lbs. Mr. L. Brabazon -

Mr. J. B. Charters' Scarabee, 6 y. iost.61bs. Bletsoe
Sir George BuUough's Simon the Lepper,

5 y. 10 St. 5 lbs. (4 ex.) - - - J. Mahoney

157

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Capt. F. D. Grissell's Sir Halbert, a.

10 St. 2 lbs. B. Ellis

Mr. D'Arcy Edwardes' An der Wien, 6 y.

10 St. 1 lb. McCormack

Mr. W. B. Parr's Fleeting Peace, a.

10 St. I lb. Capt. 0. Butler -

Col. Williamson's Ragged Robin, 5 y. lO st. A. Hogan
Mr. J. C. Munro's Volvanstown, 6 y. 10 st. G. Lyall

Winner trained by Captain R. W. Collis.

7/i Great Cross, 8/i Dark Collar, 9/1 Fleeting Peace, lo/i
Hugomart, Celerity, Simon the Lepper, I2i/i Roman Candle,
Wilkinstown, 100/6 others.

Won by 5 lengths, 4 lengths between second and third.
Time, 7 min. 35 sees.

The Great Lancashire Steeplechase.

After the Liverpool the most valuable steeplechase
contested in England — if not the one which signifies
most — has for a good many years past been the Great
Lancashire, the principal feature of the Easter Monday
fixture at Manchester. Until 1901 this was a ^1000
stake, which with deductions for second and third meant
that it yielded a little over ;^8oo to the winner ;
but in 1902 the value was raised to ^2000, and was
won by a grand 'chaser named Roman Oak, who had
been second twelve months previously. The distance
of the Lancashire Steeplechase is three miles and a half,
but apart from the fact that this is a mile shorter than
the National and that this additional mile makes such a

158

THE GREAT LANCASHIRE STEEPLECHASE

vast amount of difference, the Manchester fences are
nothing like those at Aintree, the course, indeed, being
a very easy one. Competition is nevertheless naturally
keen, there being so few steeplechases of high value in
the Calendar^ and the best horses are attracted.

Mr. Bibby first made his bid for success in 1 900, when
Zodiac went on from Liverpool to try his luck. He
had not taken part in the National, but had started for
the Stanley Five-Year-Old Steeplechase on the Saturday,
as it happened a rather curious contest. There were
four runners. Two of them stood up but failed to
finish the course, whilst the two others. Uncle Jack II.
and Zodiac, finished first and second after having fallen
and been remounted. These two met at Manchester,
where Uncle Jack repeated his victory, Zodiac getting no
nearer than eighth. The race dwells in my memory for
the reason that Cushendun, from the stable I was
managing, shared favouritism with an animal called
Montauk, a son of Strathmore and Spinaway. Montauk
failed to distinguish himself, Cushendun finishing
fourth, behind Lambay, to whom I have referred on
a previous page. Old Manifesto, with only one pound
less than 13 st. to carry, was in the field, but as I think
has been remarked, horses who have run for the National
are seldom any good for a long time afterwards, and
Manifesto was nearer last than first. Mr. Bibby sent
nothing in 1901, when the race was taken by Coragh
Hill, a son of Gallinule, nor in the two following

159

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

years, in each of which Fairland, by Ascetic, was
successful.

But in 1904 it is far from impossible that Leamington
lost for the Lawrenny stable by bad luck. Colonel
Lort-Phillips has kindly sent me the history of this
race. Mason, who was always secured when possible,
had hurt himself and was unable to ride at the meeting,
Percy Woodland was engaged for John M.P., Frank
Hartigan for Biology, Piggott was retained by Mr. J. G.
Bulteel for Dearslayer, and in fact it was impossible to
get any of the best riders ; for at this time on Easter
Monday, besides Manchester, there were meetings all
over the country, at Colchester, the Eridge, Grafton,
and Herefordshire Hunts, at Marken Rasen, Win-
canton, Cardiff, Torquay and Wethcrby. Manchester
was of course infinitely the most important, but some
of the jockeys were engaged at the minor fixtures. I
will give the story in Colonel Lort-Phillips's own
words.

" I borrowed some breeches and boots at the very last
moment, and put up the stable boy, Legge, who had
brought the horse to Manchester but who had never
ridden a race. I did not know what orders to give in
such a case, but took him aside and tried to impress
upon him that he was to 'jump off in front and stay
there! ' I could think of no instructions more easy to
remember, or more satisfactory in the result if they
could only be carried out ! I said to him ' I shan't

160

THE GREAT LANCASHIRE STEEPLECHASE

forgive you if you don't jump off in front, and if you
are blamed by the starter I will be responsible.' The
lad did what he was told as far as he was able, and had
the starter allowed him to get well away I verily believe
he would have won, in spite of the fact that he was
absolutely inexperienced and was competing against all
the best jockeys of the day. It was unlucky that the
starter did not let the horses go when they were fairly
well lined up, as it was a three and a half mile race.
The boy jumped off as told to do, but from the distance
I saw the starter ride up to him and evidently curse him
for what he considered his undue haste. This happened
three times. The third time I thought Legge would
never be able to stop the horse ; but they waited till he
came back, and before he could turn round the flag was
dropped.

When Legge did get his horse round he lost no
time. He was fourth approaching the first fence,
fourth as he passed the stand, fourth as he passed it again
the first time round, and fourth in finally passing the
winning post! It was really a distinctly good perform-
ance on the part of the lad, but when I tell you that he
was no jockey, that indeed he would never have become
one, you can understand why it was I thought we were
unlucky not to win the race, as I am convinced we
certainly should have done had Mason ridden ; in fact
so much had Leamington in hand that I thoroughly
believe he would still have won had the lad been able to

L l6l

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

get off in front and simply sat and held him, as he was a
hard puller. After this Leamington developed a habit
of propping over the small fence in front of water jumps
and either falling or galloping through them. I vainly
endeavoured to get him out of this practice. I dug
surprise ditches about the park, putting small fences in
front of them, but all to no purpose."

1904. MANCHESTER.

LANCASHIRE HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE of £1750 for

winner, £150 for sec. and £lOO for third ; winners extra;

entr. £25, 15 ft., or £3 if dec. 3| m. (70 ents., viz. 16 at

£25, 42 at £15, 12 at £3— £1725.)
Mr. G. Edwardes' Lord James, by Trenton,

6 y. 9 St. ID lbs. - - - - R. Woodland 1
Mr. J. S. Morrison's John M.P., 5 y.

10 St. 10 lbs. (inc. 8 lbs. ex.) - - P. Woodland 2

Mr. T. Eater's Fairland, a. 12 st. 2 lbs. - Goswell 3

Mr. F. Bibby's Leamington, 6 y. 10 st. 1 1 lbs. Legge 4

Mr. Spencer Gollan's Moifaa, a. 1 1 st.

10 lbs. (inc. 14 lbs. ex.) - - - Birch
Lord Coventry's Inquisitor, a. 1 1 st. i lb. - Acres
Prince Hatzfeldt's Dearslayer, a. 1 1 st. - E. Piggott
Mr. John Widger's The Gunner, a. 10 st.

1 1 lbs. - - - - - - - Mr. J. W. Widger -

Mr. W. J. Compton's May King, a. 10 st.

10 lbs. Pinyoun

Lord Sef ton's Alboin, 6 y. 10 st. 10 lbs. - Sears

Mr. J. Lonsdale's Coragh Hill, a. 10 st. 9 lbs. J. Walsh
Mr. S. Hill-Wood's Maisie II., 6 y. 10 st.

7 lbs. Waddington

Sir P. Walker's Royal Drake, 6 y. 10 st.

5 lbs. (car. 10 st. 7 lbs.) - - - F. Lyall

162

THE GREAT LANCASHIRE STEEPLECHASE

Mr. H. Bottomley's Biology, a. lO st. 5 lbs. F. Hartigan
Mr. J. A. Scorror's Arnold, a. 9 st. 8 lbs.

(car. 9 St. 13 lbs.) - - - - T. Bissell

Mr. Moorgate's Prince Tuscan, a. 9 st. 7 lbs. E. Driscoll -

Winner trained by Major Edwards.

100/30 agst. John M.P., 6/1 Royal Drake, lo/i Inquisitor,
The Gunner, 100/9 Fairland, 100/7 Moifaa, Dearslayer, 100/6
Lord James, Biology, 20/1 any other.

"Won by a neck, bad third. Royal Drake, Inquisitor, Dear-
slayer and Alboin fell. Time 7 min. 345 sees.

Nothing from the Lawrenny stable ran in 1905, when
Seisdon Prince won from Wolf's Folly, which latter very
useful 'chaser was again second next year to Theodocion,
a particularly well bred horse, being by Marcion out of
Minthe, a high class mare. Marcion distinguished him-
self on several occasions, notably by his success in the
Ascot Cup of 1893, but though he seemed to promise
remarkably well as a sire he fell much short of reasonable
expectations. Mr. Bibby ran Leamington again, but
though Mason was in the saddle the horse was little
fancied. I do not ascertain that anything was wrong
with him, but he was not at his best. Next year again
Mr. Bibby sent nothing, but the race was remarkable
for the victory of Eremon. It has previously been
emphasised that as a general rule animals who have taken
part in the Liverpool do little for at any rate the
remainder of the season. Eremon was an exception.
As recorded on another page he easily won the National,

163

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

which was run on the 22nd of March. With a 12 lb.
penalty he won the Lancashire Steeplechase on the 4th of
April with equal ease.

In 1908 Caubeen made a bid, though not a successful
one, as he missed a place, finishing fourth. The race
wanted some winning this year, indeed all the dozen
starters had at different times distinguished themselves,
the race going to Sir Peter Walker's Albuera, who was
followed by a constant winner in Moonstruck and a
sturdy, good class 'chaser in Tom West. I have seen
a good many horses who appeared to have broken down
hopelessly return and win good races. Albuera was an
example. When paying a visit to Osmaston I went
round the stables one evening with Sir Peter Walker
and we came to a sorry looking animal with a coat like
a sheep, and a general aspect of forlornness. Possibly
I looked at him with a lack of admiration, for Sir Peter
remarked " I suppose you don't recognise that one.
He won the Manchester Steeplechase." It was indeed
Albuera who had long been in retirement, but who came
out in very different shape and duly won races.

1908. MANCHESTER.

LANCASHIRE HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE of £1725 ;
3|m.

Sir Peter Walker's Albuera, by Wellington,

a. 10 St. 2 lbs. - - . . . Chadwick I

Mr. R. B. Henry's Moonstruck, a. 10 st. 9 lbs. A. Newey 2

Mr. H. Hardy's Tom West, a. 10 st. 8 lbs. - Murphy 3

164

THE GREAT LANCASHIRE STEEPLECHASE

Mr. F. Bibby's Caubeen, a. lO st. ii lbs. - J. O'Brien 4

Mr. H. W. Sampey's King Pluto, a. 9 st.

10 lbs. ------- Jackson 5

Mr. W. B. Mynors' Midas, a. 10 st. 6 lbs. 2 ex. W. Morgan 6

Mr. B. W. Parr's Judas, a. ii st. - - E. Driscoll 7

Mr. A. Buckley's (Jr.) Roman Law, a.

11 St. 13 lbs. A.Anthony 8

Mr. C. R. Hodgson's Whipsnade, a. ii st.

10 lbs. R. Morgan

Mr. L. Neumann's Baeldi, 6 y. fi st. 8 lbs. J. Walsh, Jr.
Col. Kirkwood's Apollo Belvedere, a. 11 st.

I lb. Mr. O. Butler

Capt. J. Foster's Lara, a. lost. 10 lbs. fell Mr. W. Bulteel

Mr. M. Harper's Agony, a. ii st. - fell Goswell -

Winner trained by Latham.

4|/i agst. Agony, 5/1 Albuera, 6/1 Tom West, 7/1 Roman Law,
Moonstruck, 12J/1 Baeldi, Judas, 100/7 Whipsnade, King Pluto,
100/6 Caubeen, 20/1 others.

Won by 15 lengths, bad third.

Moonstruck, who as just remarked was second in
19085 moved up to first place the following season. He
was an exceptionally useful animal over his own dis-
tance, stayed three miles and a half well, but was not a
Liverpool horse ; the additional distance and the big
fences were too much for him. This was an interesting
celebration of the Manchester race, to no small extent
because the great Jerry M. was one of the one and
twenty who contested it, starting second at 6 to i.
Other especially well known animals were Springbok, a
son of Circe, who probably produced more good steeple-

16s

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

chasers than any mare in the Stud Book ; Leinster, own
brother to Hidden Mystery, whom Sir Charles Nugent,
his trainer, proclaimed to be at least as good as any
jumper ever known, and Sprinkle Me, winner of two
Grand Military Gold Cups. Mr. Bibby's pair were
Wickham, ridden by Mason, and Sweet Cecil with
Captain Collis in the saddle, the former being backed at
half the odds laid against the latter, lo to i and 20 to i
respectively. Neither, however, had anything to do
with the finish. Moonstruck being followed home by a
five-year-old called First Champion, one of the outsiders
of the party. Sweet Cecil was a useful bearer of the
colours about whom I shall have more to say in the
next chapter. Dealing here only with the Manchester
race it may be remarked that he ran again the following
season, and was, moreover, very much expected, with
his accustomed jockey. Mason, in the saddle.

Mr. George Edwardes produced the favourite this
year, a six-year-old named Viz, ridden by Newey, who
was in great form at this period ; after him came Sweet
Cecil and another six-year-old named The Duff^rey, both
backed at 7 to i. The Duff^rey was decidedly well in
with only 9 st. 131b., in receipt of 20 lb. from Sweet
Cecil, it may be observed, and his light weight got
him home by fifteen lengths, Sweet Cecil, carrying more
than any of those who finished in front of him, sixth.
Next year The Duffrey was moved up in the handicap
to 1 1 St. 7 lb., a big increase ; but it was not too much

166

THE GREAT LANCASHIRE STEEPLECHASE

for him, and he repeated his victory, though this time
with very little to spare. Usury running him to three
parts of a length. Mr. Bibby was represented by
Caubeen, in at the same weight as the winner. Mason
was unable to ride at the meeting, in consequence so
far as I remember of an accident which kept him out
of the saddle for a Ions: time. He had not ridden at
Liverpool, and when a leading jockey is absent there it
may be assumed that misfortune has overtaken him.

The Manchester race, it will be seen, was not a lucky
one for Mr. Bibby, indeed he came nearest to victory
in 19 1 2, and then was no nearer than third, with Wick-
ham. There was a small field, only a dozen going to
the post, with an exceptionally hot favourite in Wilkins-
town, who had only 9 st. 9 lb. to carry, Wickham's
weight being 1 1 st. 6 lb. Mason had another engage-
ment this year. He had been secured for Kippeen, and
Ivor Anthony wore the green and yellow. No mistake
had been made about Wilkinstown, one of the extra-
ordinarily large number of winners of this event trained
by Coulthwaite, and Stag's Head separated Wickham
from the winner.

1912. MANCHESTER

LANCASHIRE HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE of £1725;
3|m.

Mr. C. Bower Ismay's Wilkinstown, by-
Oppressor, a. 9 St. 9 lbs. - - - R. Chadwick i

167

R. Trudgill

I. Anthony

F. Mason

W. Payne

E. Piggott

S. Walkington

G. Lyall

Mr. Ussher

R. Wall

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. G. W. Sanday's Stag's Head, a.

10 St. 1 lb.

Mr. F. Bibby's Wickham, a. ii st. 6 lbs. -
Mr. S. Hill-Wood's Kippeen, a. lO st. 5 lbs.
Mr. R. M. Liddell's Ashbrooke, a. list. -
Sir C. Assheton-Smith's King of the

Scarlets, a. li st. 13 lbs.
Mr, P. Nelke's Mount Prospect's Fortune,

a. 11 St. 13 lbs.

Maj. H. M. Cliff's Great Cross, a. lO st. 11 lbs. G. Lyall
Capt. F. D. Grissell's Salmon Fly, a. 1 1 st.

8 lbs. ref.

Mr. Stokes' Battieta, 6 y. 11 st. 1 lb. b.d.
Mr. W. F. Stratton's Durrain, 6 y. 9 st.

13 lbs. fell E. Ward

Mr. H. S. Watson's Ballinagoul, a. 9 st.

10 lbs. p.u. T. Goswell -

Winner trained by Coulthwaite.

7/4 agst. Wilkinstown, 1 1/4 Kippeen, 6/1 King of the Scarlets,
I2|/i Battieta, Durrain, Wickham, Salmon Fly, 100/6 Ashbrooke
20/1 Mount Prospect's Fortune, 33/1 others.

Won by 8 lengths, 10 lengths between second and third.
Time, 7 min. 39 1 sees.

There was an even stronger favourite in 19 13,
Rathnally, who must have cost his faithful followers
a series of fortunes, for he was continually being
backed for races he did not win. His usual luck,
or want of luck, attended him here. He had gained
one of his rare victories last time out in the Open
'Chase at Hurst Park, and as little as 4 to i was taken
about him at Manchester, where he failed to finish in

168

THE GREAT LANCASHIRE STEEPLECHASE

the first ten of fourteen, the race going to Irish Mail,
then the property of Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake — it was after-
wards that he was acquired by Sir Charles Assheton-
Smith. A useful animal called Couvrefeu II. was
second, beaten three lengths, and Mr. Bibby took third
place with Forkhill, a horse who had gained some
reputation ; for in the face of Rathnally, the much
fancied Twelfth Lancer, ridden by Mason, and the grey
Frenchman Trianon III., Forkhill was backed at loo
to 9.

In 1 914 Forkhill was again sent to the post, but
performed ingloriously, Isaac Morgan having to pull
him up. This was the closest struggle in the history
of the 'chase, Eugenist only getting home by a head
from the favourite, Alfred Noble. Mr. Bibby ran
nothing in 191 5, when Vermouth won from Temple-
downey, and in 191 6 there was no meeting at
Manchester, 'cross country sport being restricted in
England to Gatwick, Lingfield, Colwall Park, Haw-
thorn Hill and Windsor, at which last named place a
race called the Lancashire Steeplechase was run. Oddly
enough the finish twelve months previously was just
reversed, Templedowney beating Vermouth. Nothing
of Mr. Bibby's ran, nor did he send anything to
Windsor for the substitute at that place, called this year
the April Handicap Steeplechase, for I suppose this must
be taken as the substitute ; but in 191 8 the Manchester

Meeting was resumed, and I have the strongest possible

169

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

conviction that it was only by sheer bad luck that Waver-
tree was beaten. As noted on a previous page the
horses had been moved to Mr. Fred Withington's stable
at Danebury, and that they could by no possibility have
been in better hands need not be remarked for the
edification of anyone who is acquainted with the modern
Turf. Luck had constantly been against this son of
Wavelet's Pride and Kendal Lily. As the field turned
into the straight Wavertree was full of running. I was
privileged to be Mr. Bibby's guest for the meeting,
stood with him to watch, and was half inclined to offer
premature congratulations, when suddenly Poethlyn
swerved to the right, forcing Wavertree violently on to
the rails, so that his jockey, DriscoU, cut his boot and
injured his foot. Coming on again when he got clear
Wavertree was going much faster than Poethlyn at the
finish ; but the latter, ridden by Piggott, had obtained
so great an advantage that it was not to be wrested
from him. So ends the history of the Lancashire
Steeplechase so far as it has reached at the time of
writing.

The Grand Sefton Steeplechase.

At the beginning of this chapter I have expressed the
opinion that the Grand Sefton Steeplechase should have
been given precedence over the Manchester race, the
reason being that the first-named is unquestionably the

170

THE GRAND SEFTON STEEPLECHASE

greater test, seeing that the distance in each case is
the same and that the Grand Sefton is run over the
severe Aintree fences, whereas the Manchester course is
a very easy one. In 1899, the year with which our
history begins, Mr. Bibby sent Zodiac to Liverpool, to
run, however, in the Abbeystead Steeplechase for four-
year-olds, an event which has since been abandoned.
Only two went to the post, Pawnbroker was so strong
a favourite that odds of 4 to i were laid on him, but
Zodiac beat him by a dozen lengths. The stable was
not represented in the Grand Sefton, which was won by
Sir Thomas Gallwey's Hidden Mystery, with Drogheda,
who had won the National the previous year, a warm
favourite. I remember that Lord William Beresford
greatly fancied a five-year-old son of Ascetic named
Easter Ogue. I had secured Mason, who was to do
such admirable service later in the green and yellow,
for Boreen, originally named Boreenchreeogue. This
was one of the animals I managed and it occurred to me
that the last two syllables of his name might judiciously
be dropped. There is an idea that it is "unlucky" to
change a horse's name, whilst others make the change
with a notion that it brings good luck. I have no super-
stitious fancies, but it is a fact that whereas he won a
long list of good races in Ireland, and horses generally im-
prove when they come to this country and are placed in
the most competent hands — as was the case with Boreen,
for Mr. Gwyn Saunders-Davis trained him — he lost his

171

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

form and only won a single race against a very small
field at Newmarket.

In 1900, when Mr. R. Bourke's Bloomer took the
Grand Sefton, Zodiac ran, but fell, and in 1901 nothing
from the Lawrenny stable was produced, the race going
to Inquisitor, belonging to Lord Coventry, the victory
being received with a warm demonstration, for it was
remembered that forty years had passed since the brown
jacket and blue cap had been carried home in the Liver-
pool by Emblem. It can scarcely be said that an agree-
able surprise was forthcoming in 1902, for Mr. Bibby
and Col. Lort-Phillips estimated Kirkland at what may
be described as his true value. Nevertheless though it
was impossible not to esteem his chance with 10 st. 51b.
and Mason to ride him, the opposition was unquestion-
ably formidable. Venetian Monk, the favourite, had
won no fewer than nine races during the previous
season, Hill of Bree, a son of Ascetic, had shown
excellent form, and amongst others was the mighty
Manifesto, a source of extreme danger even with
1 2 St. 12 lb. Manifesto, indeed, ran wonderfully well
but Kirkland won easily, beating the great horse by
eight lengths.

1902. LIVERPOOL.

GRAND SEFTON STEEPLECHASE of £412 ; about 3 miles.
Mr. F. Bibby's Kirkland, by Kirkham,

6 y. 10 St. 5 lbs. - - - - F. Mason I

Mr. J. G. Bulteel's Manifesto, a. 12 st. 12 lbs. E. Piggott 2

172

THE GRAND SEFTON STEEPLECHASE

Mr. Allerton's The Panther, a. lO st. I2 lbs. H. Woodland 3
Col. W. Hall Walker's Hill of Bree, 6 y.

10 St. 9 lbs. J. Phillips 4

Mr. J. Collins' DeHvery, 6 y. 10 st. 12 lbs. A. Birch 5

Duke of Westminster's Drumree, 6 y.

lost. 12 lbs. .... fell A.Anthony

Mrs. H. Bourke's Thomondgate, 5 y.

11 St. II lbs. .... fell p. Cowley -
Mr. Owen J. Williams' Pride of Mabestown,

6 y. 1 1 St. I lb. - - - - fell P. Woodland
Mr. T. Clyde's Dathi, 5 y. 10 st.

13 lbs. fell J. O'Brien

Mr. W. B. Partridge's Spread Eagle, a.

lost. 12 lbs. .... fell Mr. Rogers

Mr. John Widger's Venetian Monk, 6 y.

lost. nibs. .... fell Mr. J. W. Widger -

Mr. G. W. Smith's Hercules H., 6 y.

10 St. 5 lbs. fell T. Fiely

Mr. W. H. West's Lord of the Soil, 6 y.

10 St. 2 lbs. fell T. Moran

Mr. R. Cartwright's Atty's Pride, 6 y.

10 St. 2 lbs. A. Nightingall

Mr. " White-Heather's " Detail, 6 y.

10 St. I lb. fell Mr. Payne

Winner trained privately.

3/1 Venetian Monk, 5^1 Hill of Bree, 7/1 Thomondgate,
8/1 Delivery, Detail, lo/i Manifesto, I2|/i Pride of Mabestown,
Atty's Pride, 100/7 others.

Won by 8 lengths, 5 lengths second and third. Time, 6 min.
14 sees.

In 1903 Mr. Bibby sent a competitor who had to be
regarded with much respect, the five-year-old Comfit,
whose name has been mentioned earlier in this chapter

173

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

as winner of the National Hunt Steeplechase. He had
not been out since scoring at Warwick until he went to
the post at Liverpool, but though he stood up he did
not run particularly well behind Leinster, who, only a
five-year-old, carried his I2st. 7 lb. successfully, win-
ning with nothing to spare from the six-year-old Saxilby
in receipt of 30 lb. The following two seasons Mr.
Bibby again ran nothing. In 1904 Captain H. T.
Fenwick won with Phil May, and in 1905 the five-year-
old Hackwatch, a son of Hackler and On the Watch,
was invincible. This horse carried off all the seven
races for which he started, and he was not beaten in
1906 when, however, the Grand Sefton was the only
race for which he ran.

Here Mr. Bibby ran a six-year-old named Wild Boer,
one of the few offspring of Victor Wild who did any-
thing to perpetuate the fame of that good horse. Nor
was Wild Boer much of a luminary. He won nothing
in 1906, though the previous season, after taking a
hurdle race at Cardiff, he had carried off the ;^400
Cheshire Autumn Steeplechase at Hooton Park. On
former pages I have commented on the achievements of
the offspring of Circe. One of her sons. Springbok,
won in 1907, when Mr. Bibby ran Loop Head, a six-
year-old son of Brayhead and Barberry. This horse had
shown no little promise as a five-year-old before Mr.
Bibby bought him, he had won in Ireland, having
earned four brackets in half a dozen attempts, one,

174

THE GRAND SEFTON STEEPLECHASE

however, being a walk-over, but though he ran well on
various occasions when he came to England a Novices'
'Chase at Hurst Park was his only actual success in

1907, and the Liverpool fences proved too much for
him, the great majority of the field. Loop Head among
them, falling in the Grand Sefton. But in 1908
Caubeen added greatly to his reputation by winning the
race, which was strictly in accordance with expectations,
as he started favourite. There was a good field. Spring-
bok among them, and an even more formidable rival in
Jenkinstown, who was to win the Liverpool two years
afterwards. Eighteen went to the post, and Caubeen
carrying lost. 11 lb.. Mason riding, won by five lengths.
Jenkinstown this time was pulled up. Wolfhound
refused, Rory O' Moore, Roman Law, Nanoya, Apollo
Belvedere, Tempo Bello, Spinning Coin and General
Moon all fell.

1908. LIVERPOOL.

GRAND SEFTON STEEPLECHASE (Handicap) of £499;
abt. 2 m, 7^ fur.

Mr. F. Bibby's Caubeen, by Chad, a. 10 st.

1 1 lbs. F. Mason i

Mr. J. M. Kerne's Johnstown Lad, a. 1 1 st. W. Morgan 2

Lord St. David's Davy Jones, 5 y. 10 st.

2 lbs. I. Anthony 3

Col. Kirkwood'sPhaethon, 6y. lost. 7 lbs. Mr. R. Bruce 4
Mr. J. E. Rogerson's Wee Busbie, a. 10 st.

4 lbs. D. Phelan 5

175

GREEN: YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT. AND CAP

Capt. L. H. Jones' Robin Hood IV., a.

10 St. 2 lbs. Mr. R. Walker

Mr. W. L. Longworth's Logan Rock, a.

10 St. 8 lbs. F. Lyall

Col. R, L. Birkin's Springbok, a. I2 st. - J. O'Brien
Miss H. G. Studd's Spinning Coin, 6 y.

10 St. 9 lbs. R. Gordon

Mr. P. Whitaker's Newsvendor, a. 10 st.

7 lbs. (7 ex.) Owner

Mr. S. Howard's Jenkinstown, a. lo st.

6 lbs. E. Lawn

Mr. A. Buckley's (Jr.) Roman Law, a.

1 1 St. 8 lbs. fell W. Bulteel

Capt. J. F. Laycock's Rory O'Moore, a.

1 1 St. 2 lbs. fell G. Lyall

Mr. B. W. Parr's Nanoya, 6 y. 1 1 st. fell R. Chadwick
Col. Kirkwood's Apollo Belvedere, a.

lost. 12 lbs. .... fell Mr. O. Butler

Mr. W. C. Cooper's Tempo Bello, 5 y.

10 St. II lbs. (i ex.)
Mr. T. W. Pratt's Wolfhound, 5 y.

4 lbs.

Mr. W. Wilson's General Moon

10 St.

fell Mr. J. Manley
10 St.
fell E. R. Morgan

5 y.

fell Hamilton

Winner trained by Donnelly.

5/1 Caubeen, 6/1 Davy Jones, lo/i Springbok, Roman Law,
12J/1 Nanoya, Johnston Lad, Newsvendor, 100/6 others.
Won by 5 lengths, bad third. Time, 6 min. I2| sees.

In 1909 that brilliant horse Cackler was easily success-
ful in a race which wanted a great deal of winning. His
half-brother Springbok was in the field, as was Wych-
wood — who had won five races during the season

176

THE GRAND SEFTON STEEPLECHASE

including the National Hunt Steeplechase — Bloodstone,
Rathvale, and Lanigan's Ball who had secured his three
previous races ; but it was Glenside who followed Cackler
home. Thus in eight years Mr. Bibby had won the
race twice and sent out also a second. Caubeen tried
again in 1910, but Cackler was invincible, and carrying
1 2 St. 7 lb. easily beat two previous winners in Leinster,
in receipt of 17 lb., and Springbok in receipt of 191b.,
Caubeen receiving 12 lb. fourth. Glenside tried his
luck once more in 1 9 1 1 . Here was a regular field of
Liverpool horses, nearly all the fifteen having won over
the course ; but of these fifteen ten fell, including
Glenside, and Springbok, who had become a standing
dish.

Carsey won from Jenkinstown, and Carsey won
again in 191 2 from Ballyhackle, a warmish favourite at
100 to 30. This year Mr. Bibby started Prince Hugo,
well enough bred, son of Sir Hugo who won the Derby
of 1892. Prince Hugo had been fancied for the
National Hunt Steeplechase, for which as little as 5 to i
had been taken about him. The horse had run well
in Ireland before Mr. Bibby bought him, having
won the Irish Grand Military at Punchestown, and
he gratified his owner on his arrival by standing up for
the Valentine Steeplechase at Liverpool, running Rory
O'Moore to four lengths. This looked encouraging,
for it perhaps need not be remarked that the Valentine
Steeplechase is not a handicap.

M 177

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

1912. LIVERPOOL.

GRAND SEFTON STEEPLECHASE (H'cap) of lsi2, nearly

2 miles 7| fur.
Mr. C. H. Wildenburg's Carsey, by Kersey,

a. 12 St. 5 lbs. W. Payne i

Mr. K. F. Malcomson's Ballyhackle, a.

1 1 St. 9 lbs. Mr. H. Ussher 2

Mr. M. M. Henderson's Blowpipe, a. 1 1 st. i lb. W. Smith 3

Mr. W. R. Clarke's Melamar, 6 y. 1 1 st. 6 lbs. M. Tighe 4

Mr. C. M. Barran's Regent, a. 11 st. ii lbs.

(7 ex.) L Anthony 5

Mr. E. Brandon's White Legs H., a. 10 st.

II lbs.

Mr. F. Bibby's Prince Hugo, 6 y. II st. 7 lbs.
Baron de Forest's Lord Rivers, a. 12 st.

7 lbs. fell

Sir C. Assheton Smith's Covertcoat, 6 y.

II St. 1 lb. fell

Lord Sef ton's Fervent, 5 y. 10 st. 1 1 lbs. fell
Mr. A. L. Ormrod's Turco HI., a. 10 st.

II lbs. fell

Mr. Stokes' Old Faithful, a. 10 st. 9 lbs. fell

Winner trained by Hastings.

100/30 Ballyhackle, 4J/1 Covertcoat, 6/1 Regent, 8/1 Carsey,
lO/i Lord Rivers, Melamar, 12J/1 others.

Won by I J lengths, 6 lengths between second and third.
Time, 6 min. 24I sees.

The name of Thowl Pin must have become
familiar to the reader. He did duty in 19 13 in
an interesting contest for which Rathnally and Bally-
hackle were joint favourites, the latter winning from
Irish Mail, who gave him i lb. and ran him to a length

178

J. Farrell

L Morgan

F. Mason

E. Piggott

J. Kelly

E. Pearce

R. Wall

THE GRAND SEFTON STEEPLECHASE

and a half. There was the usual tale of disaster, and
this year Carsey, who had so often completed the course
both safely and prominently, was one of those who came
to grief. Thowl Pin at any rate completed the course,
finishing fifth, behind Sir George Bullough's Ilston and
in front of Regent. Rathnally was ninth. There is only
one more Sefton to recall, no Autumn Meeting having
been held at Liverpool since 19 14. Eleven started
in 1 913, Thowl Pin once more, and this time he fell.
The race was won by Distaff, the curious thing about it
being that within so short a period as eight years the
Sefton had fallen on no fewer than four occasions to the
offspring of Circe, for Distaff was an own sister to
Cackler and half-sister to Springbok.

179

CHAPTER V

SOME WINNERS

More or less detailed comment must be made about
the best of the numerous horses Mr. Bibby has run at
meetings other than the two centres and the movable
National Hunt with which we have so far been dealing.
I have indeed already spoken of Leamington, but there
is more to add about the son of St. Andrew and Sister
Warwick — the dam bred in the United States. This
was a singularly lucky acquisition, as he cost no more
than 85 guineas at the sale of horses from the stable of
the American trainer Huggins in 1902, Huggins having
given up his English practice after taking heavy toll of
our stakes with horses the property of Mr. Whitney
and Lord William Beresford. Leamingrton was not
long in showing that his purchase had been judicious,
though it was indeed some time before he actually won
a race. His start was over hurdles as a five-year-old at
Carmarthenshire in 1903, and he began by running
second, beaten a length by a useful filly named
Pendulum.

His first win was in a race of no small importance,

180

SOME WINNERS

the great Shropshire Steeplechase at Ludlow in
April. The result was a surprise, as Leamington was
not mentioned in the betting, Maresco was a warm
favourite, and four of the remaining nine were evidently
much fancied ; but Leamington not only won, but did
so in a canter by twenty lengths. Obviously he was
something more than useful. It will probably surprise
a student of the Calendar to find that the scene of
Leamington's next success was in Ireland at Clonmel,
where he took a Subscribers' Plate, but apparently the
object of sending him was to run for the Metropolitan
Plate at Baldoyle, in which he was beaten a length by an
animal named Carrier Pigeon, a son of Rathbeal, whose
name is known as the first winner of the National
Breeders' Foal Stakes at Sandown, an event which for
many seasons past has been the most valuable two-year-
old stake now run.

Returning to England Leamington won the Winter
Steeplechase at Gatwick in December from the favourite
Mintstalk, a frequent winner, and wound up the year
by carrying off the ^'400 Midland Handicap Steeple-
chase at Nottingham. Here he beat animals of
respectable class. Harvest Home II., Hill of Bree, Sir
Peter Walker's constant winner Flutterer, Pride of
Mabestown, Ranunculus, who as already remarked was
greatly fancied for the Liverpool, St. Moritz who now
started favourite, Saxilby and others. Ludlow has
always been a favourite course with Mr. Bibby, and

181

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES. BELT, AND CAP

here in April Leamington won him the Oakley Park
Handicap Steeplechase, another case of a canter and
twenty lengths. Unfortunately trouble supervened and
no more was seen of the horse for rather over twelve
months.

In December 1905 he reappeared in the Mid-
land Handicap Steeplechase at Nottingham, and was
evidently believed to be himself again as 6 to i was
taken about him in a good field. Mr. Parr's Aunt
May, a more than useful mare, who had shown herself
good enough for a place in the Liverpool, was here
favourite. She was frequently ridden by Mr. H. S.
Persse, the present Stockbridge trainer, but at Notting-
ham Freemantle had the mount, and won after a close
finish with Theodocion. Leamington, ridden by
Mason, was the only one of the ten who fell. His
next attempt was for the ^1000 Great Cheshire 'Chase
at Hooton Park, a race with somewhat curious condi-
tions, a considerable allowance being made for animals
who were entered to be sold for £^0. Leamington did
not claim this allowance, as did the horses who occupied
the first three places, Mr. Washington Singer's Bellivor
Tor, Seisdon Prince and Flutterer. Bellivor Tor I may
pause to remark was an animal who had been constantly
beaten on the flat, indeed I do not think he had ever
won a race, until the idea of giving him a stimulant,
vulgarly called a " dope," was carried into effect ; for at
that time the practice was not forbidden. Bellivor Tor's

182

SOME WINNERS

medicine agreed with him, and for the next two seasons
he was generally first or second, nor it will be seen was
his constitution injured. After winning this race entered
to be sold for ^50, as just remarked, he was bought by
Lord Sefton for 650 guineas, though this did not turn
out by any means a good bargain for his new owner.

Leamington's next essay at Manchester has already
been described. His only other success that season was
at Hooton Park, where he took the Plodders' Steeple-
chase. In 1907 again he added only one more to his
score, nor can it be said that much credit was due to him.
At Tenby he only had a single opponent, the five-year-
old Mar Lodge II., who fell and broke his back, leaving
Leamington to finish by himself, and that was the end
of him, except that I have omitted mention of a race in
France for which he was sent over in 1904, as a
six-year-old.

The Auteuil course was in fact peculiarly unsuitable
for Leamington, in consequence of his inability to jump
water, a weak place in his equipment to which I have
previously referred. Most readers are aware that
besides the big water jump in front of the stands there
is an unguarded brook, just the sort of obstacle more
than likely to interfere with an animal who is not good
at this particular game. Among the fourteen who
started for the Grand Steeplechase de Paris this year
were four English horses, Leinster, third favourite at
7 to I, Fairland a 20 to i chance, Patlander 30 to i,

183

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

and Leamington loo to 3. I have previously observed
that four-year-olds have been singularly successful over
this four mile course, but oddly enough only two of that
age started in 1904, and neither showed up, the five-
year-old Dandolo, ridden by Percy Woodland, winning
from an animal of the same age, Gascon II., Frank
Hartigan in the saddle. Mason went over to ride Mr.
Bibby's horse, who blundered as it had been feared he
might do.

Sweet Cecil

Another who did good service, and yet I think did
not entirely fulfil the expectations that had reasonably
been formed of him, was Sweet Cecil, an Irish bred son
of Sweetheart and Cistus, for he cost ^600 as a six-year-
old after having won a number of races in Ireland,
including the Irish Grand National, which he took from
Shady Girl, a good mare who subsequently carried Mr.
Nelke's colours prominently in this country. After that
Sweet Cecil started favourite for the Conyngham Cup,
a four mile race at Punchestown, in which he finished
third to Teddie III. and Flaxman, the latter having
passed into the possession of King Edward, who gave
2000 guineas for the son of Hackler and Circe, one of
the extraordinarily famous family, own brother to
Cackler amongst others. I have spoken of Sweet Cecil
as something of a disappointment because frequently as
he came to the front he never won quite the sort of

184

SOME WINNERS

event which seemed to be within his compass. Mr.
Bibby had justification for the hope that he had secured
a Liverpool horse, and it was at Liverpool that he made
his first appearance in England, at the Autumn Meeting
of 1907 in the Valentine Steeplechase. Cackler, then
a four-year-old, who had already won three races and
was to prove himself invincible, took part in this event,
winning by eight lengths from a good 'chaser named
Roman Law. These two were better favourites than
Sweet Cecil, about whom, however, only 5 to i was
obtainable. Mason rode, but the horse fell, and though
shortly afterwards he won at Newbury from Lord
Howard de Walden's neatly named Centre Board, a son
of Speed and Ballast, there had become reason to fear
that Sweet Cecil was not likely to win a Liverpool.

In 1908 he was out fourteen times, six times victori-
ously. He won the Stewards' 'Chase at Gatwick from
Razorbill, ten days later the Grange Steeplechase at
Hurst Park from Sprinkle Me — who carried off two
Grand Military Gold Cups — dead-heated with Lord St.
David's Atrato at Newbury, was beaten a neck by that
very useful horse Tom West at Leicester, and won the
Stewards' Handicap at Ludlow, a serviceable six weeks
employment! Later in the year he took the Lough-
borough Open Handicap at the Quorn Hunt Meeting,
and after a good second to Veglo at Sandown, won the
Leamington Handicap Steeplechase from Razorbill,
winding up the year with a couple of seconds, which in

185

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

both cases reflected credit on him, for his opponent at
Kempton Park was none other than the mighty Jerry
M. and at Newbury he was beaten by Carsey, who
distinguished himself in more than one National. The
horse was sharpened up at the beginning of 1909 in the
Licensed Victuallers' Novices' Hurdle race at Kempton,
odd as it may seem that an eight-year-old who had a
longish string of races to his credit should have been
able to appear as a " novice." He soon returned to
fencing, however, won the Stewards' 'Chase at Gatwick,
was beaten three parts of a length at Derby by Judas, in
receipt of 16 lb., and won at Ludlow. In 19 10 we find
him again in a Novices' Hurdle Race, and for the second
time he won the Loughborough Handicap. In 191 1,
carrying within a pound of 12 St., he secured the Liver-
pool Trial 'Chase at Ludlow from Regent, lost. 91b.,
the Liverpool winner Jenkinstown, 12 st. 3 lb., third,
and he won also the Park 'Chase at Hurst Park, which
could scarcely be regarded as a triumph as there was
only one other runner, King of the Scarlets, who fell,
leaving Sweet Cecil to complete the course at his ease.
In 1 91 2 he was only out twice, winning a race at New-
bury, and failing at Ludlow against Jacobus and Master
at Arms. Throughout his career Sweet Cecil ran
altogether in fifty- two races, and won twenty- two of
them.

There are many horses about whom I have to talk,
and the question is in what order it will be best to

1 86

SOME WINNERS

discuss them. To rate them according to merit would
certainly not be a good plan, for the reason that it would
be impossible to make, as it were, a species of handicap,
and chronological sequence would be puzzling as they
overlap. Perhaps the best way will be to deal with
them alphabetically.

Aerostat

Some people appear to have a notion that steeplechase
horses are chance-bred animals only by a sort of courtesy
reckoned as thoroughbred. Probably few readers of
this book need be told that this is ludicrously incorrect.
Aerostat, for instance, was the son of a Derby winner,
and of one who was notable in that list as winner like-
wise of the Two Thousand Guineas, the Eclipse Stakes,
and a number of the most valuable prizes on the Turf —
Ayrshire. Mr. Arthur Coventry was riding one day on
Newmarket Heath a good looking mare named
Molynoo, and pulled up to talk to the Duke of Port-
land, who was struck by his friend's mount, asked what
she was, and kindly said that if Mr. Coventry cared to
do so he might send her to Ayrshire. Meantime Mr.
Bibby bought her, and Aerostat was born at Hardwicke
Grange. As a four-year-old he was only out once, in
a Novices' Steeplechase at Newport, but as a five-year-
old he did remarkably well, winning no fewer than six
of the eleven races for which he started. Aintree was
rather too much for him. He tried in the Stanley

187

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Steeplechase but did not complete the course behind
Captain Foster's Lara. We find him in good company
at Newbury, running with Judas, Fetlar's Pride and
others, including Denmark, whom Mr. Bibby subse-
quently purchased. He had an easier task at Mon-
mouth, where he won, as he did at Gatwick, starting
an odds on favourite, and 15 to 8 was also laid on him
at Windsor, where he justified the odds. As a six-year-
old he carried off four of his eight races, the Surrey
Steeplechase at Gatwick, favourite, beating Mr. Leopold
Rothschild's Key West, Onward, Barrabas II., Glenely
and other winners. At Bangor, favourite at 5 to 2, he
won the Stewards' Steeplechase, the Loughborough
Handicap at the Quorn Hunt in a field of fourteen, the
County 'Chase at Ludlow ; but Timothy Titus and Do
be Quick were too good for him at Kempton. As a
seven-year-old he was only out for a Hurdle race at
Sandown. The following season he made an ambitious
essay at Hurst Park against Veglo, Holy War, and
Moonstruck, giving 7 lb. to the two latter. For Holy
War Sir Charles Assheton-Smith paid 4000 guineas,
but to the general amazement Veglo won, giving the
expensive purchase 141b. Aerostat never scored again.
Unfortunately it was decided to send him to France
where he broke down and had to be destroyed.

SOME WINNERS

Ben Ruadh

Ben Ruadh, son of William Rufus and Ben Doran,
is another who was bred at Hardwicke. He took some
time after coming out at Birmingham in February 191 1
as a four-year-old to make his way to the front, though
he finished second at Ludlow, an indifferent second,
however, beaten twenty-five lengths by Red Plume.
He was backed at 7 to i for the National Hunt Juvenile
Steeplechase, won by Mr. W. H. Tyrrwhitt Drake's
Asteroid, by Dieudonne, and was at any rate one of the
half dozen to complete the course. At Ludlow in April
he was second in a field of nine to that good jumper
Cross Question, Mr. Bibby's Fork Hill also running,
but Ben Ruadh was preferred and started at 8 to i, the
other not mentioned in the betting. Ben Ruadh won a
Maiden Steeplechase at Blackpool in September and a
similar event on the same course a fortnight later. What
was thought of him is shown by the fact that at Sandown
he was almost favourite, starting at 5 to 2, for a race
which was won by Domino, backed at 9 to 4. As a
five-year-old it is rather curious that he led off by win-
ning at Manchester on the second day of the season, the
2nd January, and after some unsuccessful attempts won
on the last afternoon but one of the season, when he
beat the much-belauded Rathnally a couple of lengths,
the scene of this exploit being Blackpool, a course which
evidently suited him well. One of his six-year-old

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

successes was an exciting race at Blackpool when he was
only opposed by Purdysburn. Odds of 6 to 4 were
laid on the latter, the distance was three miles, and Ben
Ruadh got home by a short head.

Billy Balsam, Bogo, and Breemount

Of Billy Balsam and Bogo there is not much to be
said, indeed I think I need not formulate their moderate
essays. Breemount, a son of St. Gris and Mavourneen,
who cost ;^42o, must be set down as unlucky. I have
always thought that he ought to have done a great deal
better than he did. He only came out once as a five-
year-old, unplaced to Domino for the Tantivy Steeple-
chase at Gatwick. As a six-year-old he began well,
though not victoriously, by running Lord St. David's
Atrato to three lengths for the Sefton Steeplechase at
Newbury — no relation to the Aintree contest. At the
following Newbury meeting he was again second, this
time to Whipsnade, and ran for the National Hunt as
already noted, when his stable companion Wickham was
second to Rory O' Moore. He was not out again for a
year, until the next National Hunt of 1908 at Warwick,
when he won the Foxhunters' Plate, Captain Collis up,
over three miles and a half of the National Hunt Course,
that is to say a stiff hunting country. He nearly always
started for races of some pretension. In the Welsh
Grand National at Cardiff he was third to Roman Candle
and Timothy Titus, beating Ballyhackle, and the follow-

190

■ ■ ■' i"

XjA^^^t

■ i

< -^

■HdH

: m

■ l.'"

SOME WINNERS

ing season several times ran second. He never did
himself justice.

Colon
Colon, by May Fox-Comma, was a half brother to
the dual Cambridgeshire winner Hackler's Pride, need-
less to say one of the best animals of her day. He was
bought in Ireland from his breeder, an excellent bargain
at ;^ioo, for this is less than the price of a fair hunter,
and after running between the flags he carried the First
Whip for several seasons to Mr. Bibby's Hounds. As
a four-year-old he tried his luck for the National Hunt
Juvenile Steeplechase, the meeting taking place that
season, 1900, at Kempton. Colonel Hall Walker was
very confident of taking this prize with the four-year-old
son of Gallinule and Erin called Wellesley, who started
at 2 to I. He fell and injured himself so severely that
he had to be destroyed, and the race was won in a canter
by Full Flavour, a son of Satiety and Muscat, ridden by
Frank Hartigan, in those days an amateur. Colon fell,
only four of the twelve completing the course. His
one other race as a four-year-old was the Tantivy
Steeplechase at Gatwick the following week, where he
made little show behind Shipshape. As a five-year-old
Colon very nearly did all that was asked of him. He
was not seen till October, when he was second at Not-
tingham, and after a failure in a hurdle race at Keel Park
he ran four times without being beaten, taking the
Cardiff Autumn Steeplechase, the Cottrell Maiden

191

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Steeplechase the following day, the Llangibby Steeple-
chase at the Llangibby and Tredegar Hunt, and the
next afternoon the Ruperra Steeplechase. In 1902 he
was only out once, at Tenby, and it was decided that he
might be better employed in the hunting field.

Creangate

I have already remarked that Mr. Bibby never sought
to win races by mere weight of purse. This is a
delicate subject. I should like to say that few rich men
regard money less, and it was assuredly not from hesita-
tion in writing a big cheque that he seldom gave large
prices for the animals he bought. Creangate, a son of
Walmsgate and Crean, was, however, expensive. For
him 2000 guineas was paid, and the colt certainly seemed
worth the money. As a two-year-old in Ireland in 1905
he scarcely had a superior, and as a three-year-old he
continually distinguished himself. He won the Dublin
Plate at Baldoyle, a race of the same name at another
meeting there, the Champion Plate at Tramore, the
Paddock Post Plate at Baldoyle, and coming to England,
or rather to Scotland, the Edinburgh Gold Cup. He
appeared to have all the makings of a great jumper, and
was generally supposed to be a bargain, indeed he would
probably not have been sold but that his trainer got into
trouble. Col. Lort-Phillips tells me that he considered
the horse dirt cheap. Most unhappily he caught a chill
in the course of his journey to England, nearly died of

192

SOME WINNERS

pneumonia, and when he recovered was found to be a
bad roarer. In spite of this he at least showed what he
might have done. As a five-year-old he won a hurdle
race at Ludlow, beating two frequent winners, in Viz,
belonging to the late Mr. George Edwardes, and
Giulan, and in a Novices' Steeplechase at Hooton he
beat that famous son of his sire, Jerry M. To state
this without explanation might, however, cause mis-
apprehension, for Cowley, Jerry M.'s rider, broke a
stirrup leather and came off. Still, Creangate disposed
of the second favourite, a 7 to 2 chance. On Guard, and
he won the Flintshire Steeplechase at Bangor from Bally-
macoll, a son of Hackler and Ballymacarney, half brother
to Ballymacad, winner of the War National, and to
BaUyhackle whose name has constantly appeared in the
book. This was a great day for Mr. Bibby, as besides
Creangate's victory he took other races with Wickham
and Caubeen. Subsequently Creangate beat On Guard
again on the same course, and the following afternoon
only failed by about half a length to take a hurdle race.
It will readily be perceived that had he remained sound
he could hardly have missed a memorable career.

Denmark

This son of Queen's Birthday and Floraline is scarcely

worth a paragraph. He had belonged to two or three

owners before Mr. Bibby, thinking that he saw room for

improvement in him, bought him for 260 guineas after
N 193

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

he had won a selling race at Ludlow. He did come on
as it had been anticipated he would do, and won races
at Birmingham, Worcester and Ludlow, after which Mr.
Bibby let him go. He continued to win.

Fork Hill

Frosty having been discussed, the only other " F " with
whom I have to deal is Fork Hill, a son of Henry the
Eighth and Gransha, who as a five-year-old in 191 1 ran
for the Stanley Steeplechase at Liverpool, failing, how-
ever, to complete the course. As a six-year-old he did
fairly well. For the Manchester Handicap Steeplechase,
Razorbill, a hot favourite at 6 to 4 on, had to struggle
his very best to get rid of Fork Hill, who ran him to a
length and a half, and the horse afterwards won at
Leicester, at Manchester, and after finishing a good
second to Roman Candle at the Herefordshire Hunt
Meeting won a flat race at Ludlow. Mr. Bibby's horses
appear to have run an exceptional number of seconds,
and Fork Hill was one who evinced this peculiarity.
As a seven-year-old, starting favourite for the Tarporley
Handicap, no more than 5 to 4 being laid against him,
he won comfortably, and continued his seconds behind
Colonel Lort-Phillips' Succubus, a horse of whom much
was expected though be fell far short of anticipation,
and behind Lord Coventry's Belus at Ludlow, Belus
being trained at Danebury by Mr. Fred Withington, who
the following year took charge of Mr. Bibby's horses.

194

SOME WINNERS

Gay Mac and Good Business

This son of Uncle Mac and Girsha showed no small
promise. As a five-year-old in 1 9 1 5 he started, and at
any rate completed the course, for the Tantivy Steeple-
chase at Gatwick, afterwards winning a Maiden Five-
Year-Old Steeplechase at the National Hunt Meeting,
the last celebration of which took place at Cheltenham in
the year named. There were seven starters and five of
them fell. In December 191 6 Gay Mac came out at
Windsor against some of the best steeplechase horses in
training, including a National winner in Sunloch, and
it is not surprising that he failed to score, though it
is to be noted that he shared second favouritism
with the winner of several races called Minster Vale, and
whilst 5 to I was taken about Gay Mac, 7 to 2 was the
price laid against the favourite Poethlyn, whose name
has occurred on previous pages. One of Mr. Bibby's
sons used him as a charger in France, where the horse
died. Of Good Business there is nothing to be said
so far except that he is in Mr. Withington's charge at
Danebury.

Lady Lovelace and Loughnavalley

The daughter of Somerton and Yarrow Dale was one
of those with whom Mr. Bibby started ownership, and
may I think be regarded as notable, showing how races
may be won by a poor performer judiciously placed.

195

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT. AND CAP

She was a five-year-old in 1899, and started humbly in
the Derllys Selling Hurdle Race, entered to be sold for
^'70. This she won, as also the Harkforward Hurdle
Race for half breds next day. Her third attempt was
over fences at Tenby, the Lawrenny Plate, and she
landed the odds of 3 to i which were laid on her. At
the Pembrokeshire Hunt she failed by a short head,
afterwards winning on the same course on successive
days. There was so little competition for her that she
was bought in for no more than ^^ guineas. Mr. Bibby
does not bet ; for an owner who did so she would have
been a remunerative investment. As a six-year-old she
won at Tenby, not to be sold, by a head from Simple
Prince, ridden by Mr. J. W. Widger, Wild Man from
Borneo's Liverpool jockey. This year she started
eleven times and was successful on six occasions. As a
seven-year-old she was only out once, securing the
Penally Steeplechase at Tenby, after an objection. An
animal named GlendufF came in first, but was dis-
qualified on the ground that his rider had no licence,
and it appeared that he had " repeatedly ridden without
one," also there was a contingency attaching to the horse
which would likewise have been fatal. She was not
seen as an eight-year-old, nor as a nine until October,
when the Charlton Park Steeplechase at Cheltenham was
awarded to her on an objection which is worth mention
as bearing upon National Hunt Rules. A mare called
Violetta won. The protest against her was on the

196

SOME WINNERS

ground that she had gone the wrong side of a post.
This was overruled, but the National Hunt Stewards re-
opened the case. The question was " Whether a flag
which had been knocked down during the running of a
previous race was or was not to be regarded as still
marking the course to be traversed." The Stewards
decided that it was, and reversed the decision. Lady
Lovelace won afterwards at Cardiff. Loophead has
already been mentioned.

The peculiarity about Loughnavalley, a daughter of
Heckberry and Glance, was the astonishing number of
seconds she ran. As a five-year-old in 1905 she started
by running second at Mullingar. Mr. Bibby bought
her, and she made her first appearance in England at
Gatwick in a Novices' Steeplechase, unsuccessfully. As
a six-year-old she had been out no fewer than ten times
before she won. She was second to that good horse Old
Fairyhouse, one of the brilliant sons of Hackler and
Circe, for the Chaddesdon Steeplechase at Derby ; second
for a hurdle race at Cardiff, for another at Monmouth-
shire, for another, and also for the Stewards' Steeple-
chase, at the Pembrokeshire Hunt ; second again at
Cardiff, (and third by way of a little change next day,)
second for the Henley Steeplechase at Ludlow, second
for the Members' Handicap still at Ludlow. As a
seven-year-old she was second to Dathi at Tenby, and
it is not surprising that her owner had grown tired of
her. She was bought by Mr. Cuthbertson.

197

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mighty Oceariy Mr. Pick, and Mount Hecla

Mighty Ocean, a son of St. Grls and Tidal Wave,
came out in Ireland as a four-year-old in 1907, the
property of Sir E. C. Cochrane, from whom Mr. Bibby
bought him, and he ran first for him at Kempton. As
a five-year-old, if one were not aware of the circum-
stances a casual glance would suggest that he had vastly
distinguished himself. In the Stanley Five-Year-Old
Steeplechase at Liverpool he gave a couple of pounds
to that grand 'chaser Jerry M. and finished second to
him. An examination of the details, however, some-
what mitigates the admiration which the bare record
suggests. There were seven starters and Jerry M. was
the only one who stood up. Captain Collis remounted
Mighty Ocean after a fall and finished second, it might
indeed be said " a sort of second," as the verdict was a
distance. Mr. Bibby presented the gelding to Captain
Collis, for whom he won a little race or two.

Mr. Pick, by Picton-Duegna, was bought after the
death of Mr. Francis Lambton, a member of one of the
most sporting families in England, who gave his life for
his country early in the war. "Pickles," or sometimes
" Mr. Pick," was the affectionate nickname by which
Francis Lambton was known to his many friends. As
a four-year-old in 19 14 the horse narrowly missed his
first race, a Maiden Hurdle at Haydock Park, beaten a
head in a field of twelve by the 5 to 4 favourite Dabber.

SOME WINNERS

The following season he won over hurdles at Clifton,
taking also the other two events for which he started.
He came out as a 'chaser in 19 16, third in good com-
pany to an even money favourite in Limerock, who but
for a fall in the War National after he had actually
cleared the last fence would I think there can be no
possible doubt have taken that prize in 191 7.

Mr. Pick is a much better horse on the top of the
ground, so that conditions are often against him. They
were in his favour at Windsor in December last year,
191 7, and he beat ten opponents for the College Maiden
Steeplechase, subsequently on the same course winning
the Rays Handicap Steeplechase from Sergoi, Shaccabac,
Meridian, Green Falcon, Wavylace, Mask Off, Elgon,
Fashion, Veni and Hannibal. During the last season
he continued to do well. In February 191 8 he was
second at Gatwick, third to Real Grit and Scarlet Button
at Sandown, won the Surrey Double Handicap Steeple-
chase at the War National Gatwick Meeting from Eager
Simon, Bernstein, Scarlet Button and White Surrey,
being afterwards beaten only half a length at Manchester
by Minstrel Park, that good horse Pollen, a 5 to 4 on
favourite, eight lengths behind him. There are
evidently great possibilities about Mr. Pick.

Mount Hecla is ideally bred for a 'chaser, a son of
Hackler and Breemount's Pride. Unfortunately he has
not entirely justified his pedigree, though he has won
races. As a five-year-old in 191 1 he had been beaten

199

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

at Birmingham, Ludlow and Nottingham before win-
ning the British Camp Steeplechase at Colwall Park, an
even money favourite. In 191 2 he led off at Warwick
with an easy victory. This was in February, and he
did not score again till November, when at Hooton he
beat Olga's Pride, Moonstruck, Judas and others, and
made a good fight against Moonstruck at Birmingham,
where the last named, an animal of good class whose
deeds have already been recounted beat him a length and
a half. His only other success that year was in the
Stewards' Handicap Steeplechase at Hooton, where he
just got home from Red Cockade, this five-year-old in
receipt of 191b., Domino and Distaff two of those
behind him. He had a busy season in 19 14, being out
altogether no fewer than twenty times. Early in the
year, however, Mr. Bibby got rid of him. He went
into Mr. Joseph Widger's stable and won several races
in Ireland.

Red Cloth, Red Coil, and Rex

Red Cloth by Cherrystone — Katie Kendal as a five-
year-old in 1906 belonged to Mr. Peebles and Mr.
Hodgson before Mr, Bibby bought him, for 440
guineas, after he had won the Pavilion Steeplechase at
Sandown from Valentian. The idea that there was
room for improvement in him was justified. He ran
in better class races, and after a second at Kempton
Park was third to Atrato and Giulan, beaten a length

SOME WINNERS

and a half and a neck, for the ;^iooo Great Cheshire
Steeplechase at Hooton. He then took three consecu-
tive races, the Tarporley Handicap Steeplechase, in
which the favourite Ballyhackle fell ; the County
Steeplechase at Ludlow, Ballyhackle this time beaten on
his merits unplaced to Red Cloth, the two now meeting
at even weights ; and the Busbridge Handicap Steeple-
chase at Sandown, thirteen behind him. At Notting-
ham he was second to Cannock Lad for the Midland
Handicap Steeplechase, Leinster and Ballyhackle un-
placed with nine others. In 1909 he won the ^200
Waterloo Steeplechase at Manchester in February, and
made a good fight with Bloodstone for the Easter
Handicap at Manchester, the latter winning a length,
giving Red Cloth 5 lb.

Red Coil, by Wavelet's Pride out of a mare by Red
Prince II., started her career as a four-year-old in 191 1 at
the Meath Hunt Meeting, after which, purchased by
Mr. Bibby, she ran for him at Birmingham and Sandown.
Her first success was in the Elvaston Steeplechase at
Derby, where she beat that good mare Distaff, with,
however, a considerable advantage in the weights. Mr.
Bibby was usually represented at the Manchester New
Year Meeting, and here Red Coil won the Canal Maiden
Steeplechase, after surviving an objection for " nearly
putting Mavourneen's Gift over the rails half way up
the straight." This the Stewards agreed was a ground-
less complaint. She won again at Newbury in January,

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

but nothing else that season. As a seven-year-old, after
a second to Jacobus at Manchester, she beat Bloodstone
at Haydock Park, and then distinguished herself by
carrying off the National Hunt Handicap Steeplechase
at Cheltenham. There was a great deal of grief among
the seventeen starters. The pace must have been
remarkably good, for Ally Sloper, Bridge IV., Hugo-
mart, Fleeting Peace, Ragged Robin and An der Wein
were all pulled up ; Sir Halbert, who had won the
National Hunt Steeplechase over the same course as
noted on a previous page, Volvanstown, Wilkinstown
and Simon the Lepper fell. She won the Great Shrop-
shire Handicap at Ludlow, and in the Uxbridge Handi-
cap Sweepstakes at Kempton Park was second to the
very useful horse Silvertop, the winner in receipt of
251b., Lord Rivers, Belus and others of note behind.
In the Sandown Handicap Steeplechase she gave the
National winner Sunloch 7 lb. and beat him twenty
lengths, was a good second for the Charlton Handicap
Steeplechase at Cheltenham to Hackler's Bey in receipt
of no less than 41 lb., indeed she ranks high amongst
bearers of the colours.

Rex was chiefly a hurdler. This son of Laveno and
Reigning Queen, a four-year-old in 1906, had run and
won in Ireland before Mr. Bibby bought him for ;^8oo.
It is perhaps a little curious that on the day when Rex
was last seen in Ireland at Leopardstown two other horses
who were to join Mr. Bibby's stable also ran. Mighty

202

SOME WINNERS

Ocean won the Stand Plate, for which Rex ran third,
and Sweet Cecil started favourite for, though he did not
win, the Winter Plate. Rex first ran for Mr. Bibby at
Sandown as a five-year-old, and after two or three unpro-
ductive essays won a flat race at Ludlow on a day when
his owner came very near to sweeping the board ; as
earlier in the afternoon he had won the Open Hunters'
'Chase with Glenside, the County 'Chase with Red
Cloth, and the Henley 'Chase with Creangate. A
subsequent success of Rex in the Throckmorton Hurdle
Handicap at Gatwick was somewhat amusing by reason
of the strenuous efforts to dispossess him made by the
owner of an animal called Mystical, who only ran third.
Mystical was a strong favourite at 6 to 4, and one is led
to suspect that his friends thought it worth while to
stretch several points in order to get rid of the two who
had beaten him. The first objection was for crossing,
and this the Stewards overruled, whereupon Mystical's
jockey reported Mason and O'Brien for foul riding.
This was also promptly dismissed. Not even yet con-
tent, application was made to the Stewards of the
National Hunt to reopen the case, which they naturally
refused to do.

Semi-colon and Shoot

Semi-colon, own sister to Colon, was one of the early
bearers of the colours, a four-year-old in 1901, started
over hurdles at Tenby, as so many of Mr. Bibby's

203

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

horses have done since, and at a second attempt took a
similar event at the Carmarthenshire Hunt Meeting,
which Mr. Bibby has helped so greatly to support. Her
first essay over fences was at Hawthorn Hill in a ;^2oo
race, her first win being over the Flying Course at the
Pembrokeshire Hunt in a race for which Frosty also
ran, there being a declaration to win, however, with
Semi-colon. We find her next at Clonmel, where she
took the Three Mile Executive Plate. Returning to
England she tried for the ;{^2 5o Midland Handicap
Steeplechase at Nottingham, but was not equal to the
task of dealing with her elders. As a five-year-old she
was sold after winning a hurdle race at Cardiff.

Shoot was bred by Col. Lort-Phillips, who rated him
as a horse of considerable promise. He was by the
imported Derringer out of May Bloom, a four-year-old
in 1904. In January he was introduced to racing over
hurdles at Carmarthen and in a little steeplechase at
Tenby at the beginning of the year, not to be seen again
till he reappeared at Hooton in November, where, how-
ever, the company was too good for him, including as
it did Judas, backed at a short price for the Liverpool,
Onward, that very useful animal Flutterer, who won a
number of races for Sir Peter Walker and remained in
training to an exceptionally old age, and others who
were in the habit of winning. As a five-year-old he ran
again at Tenby against only one opponent, an animal
named Barograph, who came in first, but after passing

204

SOME WINNERS

the post crossed his legs and fell. The Stewards
duly passed him. Shoot won the Past and Present
Handicap Steeplechase at the Sandown Grand Military-
Meeting, and the Stewards' 'Chase at Ludlow, after
which he met Ascetic's Silver at Hurst, starting
favourite, moreover, at 5 to 4. In the course of the
race he broke down or his friends believe that he would
have beaten the Liverpool winner, and as it was he
finished second in front of Mr. Gorham's very useful
Wolf's Folly.

Terpsichore 11.

This mare was bred in America, a daughter of the
Derby winner St. Blaise and Reel Dance. As a five-
year-old in 1899, after three fruitless attempts, at Tenby
she won the last race on the Thursday and the first race
on the Friday, Mr. Gwyn Saunders-Davies won the
Grand Military Handicap Steeplechase on her at Cardiff
on Easter Monday, and Col. Lort-Phillips rode her
himself in a Private Sweepstakes, also at Cardiff ; but
Sir Peter Walker's good old horse Missionary landed
the odds of 5 to 2 which were laid on him. This I
think disposes of all the horses that have not been
mentioned in the previous chapters and are in any way
noteworthy.

205

CHAPTER VI

ON THE FLAT

So far as racing goes steeplechasing has been Mr. Bibby's
favourite sport. He has nevertheless run a certain
number of horses on the flat, for the most part home
bred, and in the future it is probable that he may be
found devoting more attention to racing under Jockey
Club Rules. Not many flat races have been won by
bearers of the colours. Racing is conducted on two
different principles. An owner may be exceedingly
anxious to win whatever he can, and places his animals
accordingly so that he may be able to back them with
what appears to be good prospect of winning his money ;
or he may adopt a far more sporting attitude, take his
chance in races the winning of which would gain reputa-
tion for his representatives, having no regard to the
odds ; and as previously remarked Mr. Bibby does not
bet.

Holy Smoke
There can be little doubt that Holy Smoke, a son
of Ayrshire and Halo — the dam an animal about whom
there will presently be something to say — would have

206

ON THE FLAT

won races had a less ambitious policy been pursued.
Holy Smoke came out for the Coventry Stakes at Ascot
in 1910, needless to say one of the principal events of
the season success in which almost inevitably presages
a brilliant career. Winners of the Coventry include
Ladas, Persimmon, Desmond, Rock Sand, St. Amant,
Cicero, Black Arrow, Louviers, who was beaten a very
short head for the Derby by the King's Minoru, Admiral
Hawke, the brother to Pretty Polly. Later in the list
come the names of Shogun, who I shall always think was
most unlucky to lose the Derby of 19 13, and the famous
Tetrarch.

In 1 9 10 Holy Smoke was beaten out of a place in
the Coventry, which went to Radiancy, the second being
Cellini, afterwards winner of the National Breeders' Foal
Stakes at Sandown, already described as much the most
valuable two-year-old prize of the season. Holy Smoke's
second attempt was in the p^iooo British Dominion
Stakes, also at Sandown, and he was held in sufficient
respect to cause him to start second favourite at 100 to
30. He then ran in the Soltykoff Stakes at New-
market, in the Richmond at Goodwood, which was won
by that good horse Mr. Leopold de Rothschild's Pietri,
on whom 6 to 4 was laid. In a Plate at the First
October Meeting he encountered Stedfast and other
good animals, and there were formidable rivals in the
Alington Plate at the Second October, a race which
created something of a sensation, for Lord Falmouth's

207

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

charming filly Lady's Mantle, after running third,
dropped dead in the Birdcage on her return for her
jockey to weigh in. Holy Smoke was second to St. Nat
for the Houghton Stakes, and second to the favourite,
Mr. Reid Walker's Desman, for the Osmaston Nursery
at Derby. Desman had just beaten him for the Aling-
ton Plate, so that the form was correct. As a three-
year-old Holy Smoke missed the ;^iooo Tudor Plate
at Sandown by a short head, and was beaten again by
a head for the Hastings Plate. He ran at Lewes for the
Nevill Maiden Plate, and for the third time was beaten
a head, by Drinmore. Wootton rode the winner, and
I think it may be said was more than a head. better than
Holy Smoke's jockey.

King''s Scholar

With King's Scholar Mr. Bibby was more fortunate.
This horse was a son of Your Majesty, the Persimmon
colt who won the Leger of 1908 amongst other races
including the Eclipse Stakes, the dam Don's Birthday
by Donovan-Tay by Bend Or, a mare still in the
paddocks at Newmarket. As a two-year-old in 191 3
King's Scholar was second in his first race to the
favourite Honeywood, who afterwards carried off the
Cambridgeshire. He was third to Stornoway for a rich
Biennial at Ascot, then third to Breakspear and
Soulouque for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at
Goodwood.

208

ON THE FLAT

1913. BRIGHTO^f.

ROTTINGDEAN PLATE of £200, of which sec. rec. £10, for
2 yr. olds. Entr. £3, or £i if dec. T.Y.C. 5 fur. 88 yds.
(44 ents. viz. 32 at £3, and 12 at £1 — £187.)
Mr. F. Bibby's King's Scholar, by Your

Majesty, 8 st. 9 lbs. . . . . Wm. Griggs i

Mr. J. B. Joel's King Finch, 8 st. 9 lbs.

(car. 8 St. 10 lbs.) F. Wootton 2

Mr. J. A. de Rothschild's Albany Beef,

8 St. 12 lbs. A. Whalley 3

Mr. G. Edwardes' Stage Fright, 8 st. 12 lbs. - E. Piper
Mr. H. J. Goodson's Sudden Squall, 8 st. 12 lbs. F. Greening
Mr. E. J. Marshall's Llanavon, 8 st. 9 lbs. - S. Donoghue -
Mr. Russell's Chiddingstone, 8 st. 9 lbs. - W. Earl -

2/1 agst. King's Scholar, 5/2 Albany Beef, 4/1 Stage Fright,
8/1 King Finch.
Won by 3 lengths, neck second and third.

He won the Rottingdean Plate at Brighton, and was
within a short head of winning the Suffolk Nursery at
the Newmarket Second October, among those behind
him being the favourite, Mount William, who was only-
giving King's Scholar 51b. He was then second for
the Orleans Nursery at Sandown in a field of seventeen,
and second to Sir John Thursby's beautiful filly
Torchlight for the Free Handicap.

I913. NEWMARKET.

FREE HANDICAP of £100 each, 25 ft., for 2 yr. olds ; Bretby

Stakes Course, 6 fur. (8 acceptances — £525.)
Sir J. Thursby's Torchlight, by John o'

Gaunt, 8 st. 6 lbs. carried 8 st. 7 lbs. - D. Maher i

o 209

GREEN: YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Mr. F. Bibby's King's Scholar, 7 st. 12 lbs. - H. Jelliss 2
Mr. Sol Joel's Honey wood, 8 st. 10 lbs. - Walt. Griggs 3
Mr. E. Temple Patterson's Land of Song, 9 st. S. Donoghue
Mr. Ernest Tanner's Carancho, 8 st. 2 lbs. - A. Whalley
Mr. 0. Lewisohn's Coronis, 7 st. 13 lbs. - J. H. Martin
Sir E. Vincent's b.f. by St. Amant — Renais-
sance, 7 St. 8 lbs. J. Prout

11/10 on Torchlight, 5/1 agst. King's Scholar, 7/1 Honeywood,
8/1 Renaissance f.
Won by i| lengths, 5 lengths second and third.

As a three-year-old King's Scholar won the Imperial
Handicap at Lingfield, from Cigar, a horse of consider-
able reputation, and was third to Black Jester for a
Biennial at Ascot. In 191 5 he ran for the Newbury
Spring Cup, won by Lord Rosebery's Wrack, and
wound up as one of thirty-seven starters for the Chester-
wood Handicap at the Newmarket First Extra Meeting.
With such a field as this the race is often practically
decided at the start.

1914- LINGFIELD.

IMPERIAL HANDICAP of £400, of which sec. rec. £30 and
third £15 ; winners extra; entr. ^{^lO or £3 if dec. 1 mile
straight. (22 ents. viz. 15 at £10 and 7 at £3 — £345.)
Mr. F. Bibby's King's Scholar, by Your

Majesty, 3 y. 7 st. 4 lbs. - - - F. Herbert 1

Mr. P. F. Heybourn's Cigar, 6 y. 9 st. 3 lbs. H. Randall 2
Mr. E. Herz's Short Grass, 6 y. 8 st. 1 lb.

(1 ex.) F. Rickaby 3
Mr. W. J. Tatem's Indian Mail, 4 y. 7 st.

7 lbs. (2 ex.) E. Piper 4

210

ON THE FLAT

Ld. Savile's Halifax, 4 y. 8 st. (inc. 10 lbs. ex.) G. McCall
Mr, W. R. Wyndham's Matelot, a. 7 st. 10 lbs. H. Robbins
Mr. T. Nolan's Knuck-na-Corriga, 5 yrs.

7 St. 4 lbs. Waggott

Duke of Portland's William Gunn, 3 y. 7 st.

3 lbs. M. Wing

Mr. W. H. Allden's MacChanter, 5 y. 7 st. - P. AUden
Mr. Keith Arbuthnot's Tinklebell, 4 y.

6 St. II lbs. D. Dick

Mr. H. K. Brushwood's Gotham, 5 y. 6 st.

II lbs. R. Cooper

4/1 agst. Indian Mail, 6/1 Halifax, Cigar, Short Grass, 7/1
Matelot, William Gunn, lo/l MacChanter, Gotham, 100/8 others
(offered).

Won by a neck, l| lengths second and third, fourth close up.

Misty Laiv

Misty Law, a daughter of Ayrshire and Ben Doran,
showed up in four of her six races as a two-year-old in
191 1. She was just beaten by Mr. Nelke's Pollywin
for the Cliftonville Plate at Brighton, won from the
favourite Scotchlike, 11 to 8 on, the Hardwicke Stakes
at Stockton, something of a coincidence, Mr. Bibby's
residence being Hardwicke Grange ; won the Hastings
Nursery at Yarmouth, giving weight to all the other
starters, and again with top weight, giving from 131b.
to 27 lb. to everything else in the race, third for the
Crowborough Nursery at Lingfield. As a three-year-
old she won the Bishopsgarth Handicap at Stockton.

211

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

Halo

Halo came early in the history of the colours. This
filly, who was to become the dam of Holy Smoke,
showed up well in her first season. She was out five
times, making what must be considered a highly pro-
mising first appearance, third to Game Chick for the
Princess Cup at the Newmarket First July. Game
Chick won half a dozen races worth ;^932o. Halo was
then thrice consecutively successful, taking the Lambton
Stakes at Stockton, the Badminton Plate at York and
the Sallow Maiden Plate at Gatwick in a field of
thirteen ; but she was not equal to beating her opponents
in the Snailwell, for here she met the speedy Chacornac,
and amongst others Dieudonne, winner of the Middle
Park Plate. Next season Halo did not keep up her
record, though she secured the Ditch Mile Handicap.

Pain Bis

Pain Bis was another of the early ones, a son of
Bread Knife and Pansy. He, too, would surely have
won races had this been made a main object. He
started in the Great Surrey Foal Stakes at Epsom on
the day after Ard Patrick's Derby, and then tried his
luck in a Biennial at Ascot, which went to Lord
Falmouth's invincible filly Quintessence. In 1903 he
was beaten a neck by Imperious for the Heath High-
Weight Handicap at the Newmarket Craven Meeting,

ON THE FLAT

and beaten half a length for the Liverpool Cup by
Captain Kettle, with the Two Thousand Guineas winner
Handicapper a length and a half behind him. This
form must be considered certainly good enough to win
races. For the ;^2ooo Prince Edward Handicap at
Manchester he was placed fifth, and he ran in the Cam-
bridgeshire. There Hackler's Pride only had to give
him 3 lb., and his chance must have been very remote.
As it was he never won a race, though as a four-year-old
he only failed by a short head in the Friday Welter on
the afternoon when Pretty Polly won the One Thousand

Guineas.

Dorastus and Myron

These two were sons of Diploma, Myron by Ladas.
He only made a single appearance, but had been so well
tried that he started a strong favourite at 9 to 4 in a
field of twenty for the Country Two-Year-Old Plate at
Lingfield in November, 1906. A gelding belonging to
Lord Alington, Grab by name, jumped off and was
never caught, Myron finishing third. Dorastus by
Florizel IL came a year later, but did not run as a
two-year-old. As a three in 1908 he began with a win,
taking the Cleveland Apprentice Plate at Redcar, but
seconds and thirds were the best he could do afterwards.

Svindune

Svindune is a half brother to King's Scholar by Swyn-
ford, and much was asked from him as a two-year-old,

213

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT. AND CAP

as he was sent for the New Coventry won by Diadem,
whom he was not at all likely to beat! His one other
appearance that season was in a field of twenty-one for
the Princess Plate. In 1917 he only made a solitary
attempt on the flat, unplaced to Trinity Square at
Windsor, and in 191 8 the best he did was to finish
second to Corydon for a four-year-old Hurdle Handicap
at Manchester. He is a good looking colt from whom
something may be expected, though it is to be feared
that he is disinclined to do his best.

St. Tudwal

From this son of St. Frusquin and TuUia there is
reason to hope much at the time of writing. He is a
contemporary of Svindune, but did not run as a two-
year-old. As a three in 1917 he showed respectable
form when third to Roubaix for the Wood Ditton
Stakes, and for the Hastings Plate he also ran distinctly
well, second to Argosy. This colt was giving Tudwal
7 lb. and beat him a length and a half, but Coq d'Or,
Pamfleta, Sunset Glow and Wildwood were behind and
much was thought of Argosy at the time.

As a four-year-old St. Tudwal's occupations were
varied. He began with a hurdle race at Sandown in
March, followed on by another hurdle handicap at Man-
chester, where, however, his owner's Svindune also ran
and a declaration to win was made in the latter's favour.
I think Svindune ought to have taken the race for

214

ON THE FLAT

reasons which need not be discussed ; at it was he
finished second. Next day St. Tudwal won the Palatine
Hurdle Race, ran away with it, indeed, the verdict being
twenty lengths, and though I am sorry to use the term
" ought to have won " too frequently, I really think he
was most unlucky to miss the Twickenham Plate at the
Newmarket First Spring Meeting. The favourite here
was King John, afterwards winner of the Irish Derby,
others backed in the race being Rosmarin, McNeil and
Cattegat. While St. Tudwal was making a determined
effort, King John's jockey cut him over the head more
than once, and according to my reading of the race it
was certainly this which accounted for St.Tudwal's defeat
by half a length. The Hastings Plate was run over a
mile and a half, as was the Bushbury Maiden Plate at
Wolverhampton, which St. Tudwal won easily with
odds of 5 to 2 on him.

Last July (191 8) St. Tudwal finished second to He
for the Summer Handicap, in front of such well-known
horses as Furore, Greek Scholar, St, Eloi, The Viking,
Evan and Rosmarin, and as when the Cesarewitch
weights were published He gradually became — as he
started — favourite for the great handicap, a fancy for St.
Tudwal naturally developed. Mr. Bibby's horse was
backed down to a short price and ran well without
actually threatening danger. To be precise he was
seventh to Air Raid, who beat He by a short head —
very luckily, for if Donoghue had ridden He, as but

215

GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP

for an unfortunate disagreement he would have done,
I have no doubt whatever that the colt would have won.

1918. NEWMARKET.

CHIPPENHAM PLATE of £176. i mile 4 fur.
Capt. Giles Loder's King John, by Roi Herode,

7 St. 9 lbs. J. Martin i

Mr. F. Bibby's St. Tudwal, 4 yr. 8 st. 4 lbs. - Carslake 2

Mr. E. Hulton's Rosmarin, 4 y. 9 st. 2 lbs. - V. Smyth 3

Mr. Arthur James' Decameron, 3 y. 7 st. 3 lbs. Hulme 4

Mr. J. P. Arkwright's McNeill, 3 y. 8 st. 4 lbs. F. Fox 5

Capt. A. de Rothschild's Cattegat, 3 y.

Sst. 4 lbs. Whalley

Mr. Russel's Linonyx, 4 y. 8 st. 2 lbs. - 0. Madden
Mr. J. W. Harvie's Roughwater, 4 y. 8 st. - Lancaster -

Sir W. J. Tatem's He, 3 y. 7 st. 3 lbs. - T. Leader -

Mr. H. C. Sutton's Lady Wilavil, 3 y. 7 st. i lb. Collett

3|/i King John, 4|/i Rosmarin, St. Tudwal, 6/1 McNeill,
Cattegat, I2|/i Decameron, 14/1 He, 20/1 others.

Won cleverly by J length, bad third.

CESAREWITCH STAKES (Handicap) £1010; 2I m.
Mr. W. M. Cazalet's Air Raid (4), 3 y.

8 St. I lb. O. Madden I

Lord Glanely's He, 3 y. 7 st. 10 lbs. - A. Smith 2
Major F. C. Stern's Buckthorn, 3 y.

7 St. I lb. G. Hulme 3

Mr. H. Ellis' Furore, 5 y. 8 st. 12 lbs. - H. Robbins 4

Mr. P. W. Carr's Warwick, 4 y. 6 st. 9 lbs. A. Flannigan 5

M. M. Calmann's Haki, 6 y. 7 st. 5 lbs. - J. Brennan 6

Mr. F. Bibby's St. Tudwal, 4 y. 7 st. 1 1 lbs. C. Foy 7

Mr. J. E. Potter's Golden Rule, a. 7 st. 1 1 lbs. V. Smyth 8

Mr. J. White's Ivanhoe, 5 y. 7 st. 3 lbs. (lex.) R. Cooper 9

Sir A. Bailey's Brown Prince, 4 y. 9 St. 2 lbs. F. Fox -

216

ON THE FLAT

Mr. W. M. G. Singer's St. Eloi, 6 y. 9 st. J. Childs

Mr. L. Winans' Planet, 4 y. 9 st. - - Carslake -

Mr. W. T. de Pledge's Greek Scholar, 5 y.

8 St. 3 lbs. A. Whalley

Mr. J. White's Chapel Brampton, 6 y. 8 st. E. Wheatley -

Due Decazes' Mont Saint Eloi, 3 y. 7 st.

7 lbs. J. H. Martin

Mr. L. Winans' Race Rock, 6 y. 7 st. 5 lbs. J. Mason -

Mr. A. E. Barton's Leandros, 3 y. 7 st. 2 lbs. Ringstead -

Mr. Stuart's Chinaman, 4 y. 7 st. l lb. - K. Robertson
Mr. W. B. Tilley's Morning Star, 3 y.

6 St. II lbs. ------ T. Leader -

Mr. S. B. Joel's Princess Nathalie, 3 y.

6 St. II lbs. ------ Lester -

Mr. W. M' Ilroy's Pastures New, a. 6 st. 9 lbs. T. Gates -

Sir H. M. Fitzhubert's Mountain Laddie,

5 y. 6 St. 10 lbs. (3 ex.) - - - E. Quirke
Mr. G. W. Smith's John Jackett, 5 y.

6 St. 5 lbs. Weston -

Mr. W. H. Dixon's Traceable, 3 y. 6 st.

3 lbs. (3 ex.) W. Balding

5| He, 100/15 Furore, 10 Greek Scholar and Ivanhoe, 100/9
Haki and St. Tudwal, 100/6 Brown Prince, 20 Golden Rule and
Buckthorn, 25 Air Raid, 33 Planet, Leandros, Race Rock,
Morning Star, and Princess Nathalie, 40 St. Eloi, 50 Mont Saint
Eloi, Chapel Brampton, and John Jackett, lOO bar nineteen.

Short head, i| lengths. 3 m. 57f sees.

Winner trained by Taylor.

217

, Ooo 1

f ^

CX3 r

Z' Hermit )

(Ch. 1864)1

Devotion |

(Ch. 1869) 1

Newminster
Seclusion
8 took well

Alcestis

O
On

w
w

r Harkaway

w r King Tom

(B. 1851) I

^ May Bloom
(B. 1861)

ID 33

w
>

< 00

> 00

^ S«

(B. 1826)

Yard Arm
(Bl. 1843)

Solon

(Br. 1861)

. Constance

Pocahontas
Newminster
Lady Hawthorn
Whalebone

I Sir Hercules

I Peri

Sheet Anchor

I Fanny Kemble

(West Australian
Darling's dam
r Coningsby

(Br. 1859)

Integrity

f Touchstone
\ Beeswing

J Tadmor
\ Miss Sellon

f The Baron
\ Pocahontas

f Touchstone
\ Sacrifice

f Economist

\ Fanny Dawson

f Glencoe
\ Marpessa

/ Touchstone
\ Beeswing

f Windhound
\ Alice Hawthorn

f Waxy
\ Penelope

J Wanderer
\ Thalestris

/ Lottery
\ Morgiana

r Paulowitz
\ Loyalty

J Melbourne
\ Mowerina

Birdcatcher
Dau. of Hetman
Platoff

Venison
Ruby

Van Tromp
Rectitude,
by Lottery

218

Frank Bibby's North End Stud, Exning.

YEARLING COLTS, 1918.

Sire.

Dam.

Colour.

Age.

1917

Caubeen, -

Early Blossom, -

Bay, -

April 30th.

Dorando, -

Farrand, -

Bay, -

April 15th.

Polymelus,

Mandamt, -

Bay, -

March 2nd.

Caubeen, -

Wavespray,

Bay, -

April 9th.

Caubeen, -

Miss Bromley, -

Bay, -

April 17th.

YEARLING FILLIES, 1918.

Sire.

Dam.

Colour.

Age.

Spearmint,

Don's Birthday, -

Bay, -

February 14th.

Sunstar, -

Haweswater,

Bay, -

March i8th.

Prince Palatine,

Marsovia, -

Bay, -

March 13th.

Prince Palatine,

Marybud, -

Chestnut,

May 13th.

Bayardo, -

Singlet,

Bay, -

February 19th.

Swynford, -

TuUia,

Bay, -

February 17th.

Bowman, -

Singer,

Bay, -

April 14th.

219

.i'jr^r

220

INDIVIDUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FENCES
CONSTITUTING THE GRAND NATIONAL
STEEPLE CHASE.

1 & 17. — Thorn fence, 5 ft. high and 2 ft. thick.

2 & 18. — Thorn fence, 4 ft. 6 in. high, guard rail on take off

side 2 ft. high, close up against fence.

3 & 19. — Thorn fence, 4 ft. 10 in. high, with ditch on take off

side about 6 ft. wide and 4 ft. deep, and a rail in
front of said ditch 2 ft. high.

4 & 20. — Rail and fence, the rail being 2 ft. 6 in. high and the

fence 5 ft. high.

5 & 21. — Thorn fence, 5 ft. 2 in. high and 2 ft. thick.

6 & 22. — Known as " Beecher's Brook," a thick thorn fence

5 ft. high, with rail 2 ft. in front and a natural ditch
about 5 ft. wide on the far side and 4 ft. deep.

7 & 23. — Thorn fence, 4 ft. 10 in. high, with rail in front 2 ft.

6 in. high.

8 & 24. — Thorn fence, 5 ft. 2 in. high, ditch on take off side

5 or 6 ft. wide, and rail in front 2 ft. high.

9 & 25. — Known as " Valentine's Brook," a thorn fence

5 ft. 3 in. high, with a rail in front 2 ft. high and
brook on far side.

10 & 26. — Thorn fence, 5 ft. high, and 2 ft. thick.

11 & 27. — Rail 2 ft. high, a ditch about 7 ft. wide and 4 ft.

deep, and a thorn fence on far side 4 ft. 9 in. high.

12 & 28. — Rail 2 ft. high, fence 4 ft. 9 in. high, and ditch on

far side 6 ft. wide,

13 & 29. — A thorn fence, 4 ft. 9 in. high.

14 & 30. — A thorn fence, 4 ft. 9 in. high.

15. — Thorn fence, 5 ft. high and 2 ft. in width, ditch on take off
side 5 ft. wide and a rail in front 2 ft. high.

16. — The "Water Jump," — 16 ft. wide.

I'RrN'IRD IN GREAT BRITAIN EV ROBERT MACLEHOSE AND CO. LTD.
AT THE UNIVF.RSnY PRESS, GLASGOW

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