Racing Career 



the Worcestershire Welter for Mr. Ray on Scylla by a short 

 head, after a great finish, Jem Adams and John Osborne being 

 second and third, with a head between each. 



In 1872 Mr. Richardson eclipsed all his previous perform- 

 ances in point of number, winning no fewer than fifty-six 

 events, four of which were races on the flat, including the two 

 at the Epsom Spring and Summer meetings on Lincoln and 

 Bickerstaffe respectively, of which I have already made men- 

 tion, and which he himself was so proud of. It was a singular 

 incident that of the four races under Jockey Club Rules he 

 rode in that year at Epsom and Liverpool he should win 

 them all. 



The following year, in addition to numerous other races of 

 more or less importance, the "Cat" set the seal on his fame 

 by winning the Grand National on Disturbance, purchased by 

 him from Mr. James Barber on behalf of Captain Machell for 

 a very small sum at the Ayr meeting. Disturbance was a 

 very little horse, and despite the fact that in Mr. Richardson's 

 hands he had already beaten a field of first-rate horses in the 

 Croydon Steeplechase, this probably accounted in no small 

 measure for his being allowed to start at an outside point, the 

 majority of backers being no doubt of opinion that 1 1 st. 1 1 lb. 

 Was far too heavy an impost for so small a horse to carry 

 successfully over so long and tiring a course as that at Aintree. 



Captain Machell and Mr. Richardson, however, knew better, 

 and never lost confidence in their champion, with the result 

 that Captain Machell was credited with having won the largest 

 sum in bets that had ever been his lot since he went on the 

 turf, not even excepting that memorable occasion when Hermit 

 won the Derby ; whilst Mr. Richardson, whose first bet it was 

 of any importance, landed the thousand to ten the Captain had 

 taken on his behalf soon after the acceptances were declared. 



99 



