Racing Career 



my friends looking on, that on mounting I was the recipient of 

 many inquiries as to whether my life was insured. 



"Well, off we started" (I am still quoting his rider), "and, 

 to my surprise and delight, instead of Reviriscat, as I made 

 sure would be the case, going badly over the ridge and furrow, 

 or taking a lot of riding in the fearful and wonderful bridle 

 already described, no horse could possibly have gone better, 

 with the result that when we got amongst the trappy fences 

 the others were quickly left behind, and never being caught, 

 we eventually won with the greatest ease, to the extreme 

 delight of his sporting owner, who, though the winner had 

 frequently carried him hunting, the latter had never previously 

 run in a steeplechase. To show his appreciation of the per- 

 formance, dear old Ned Maxwell presented me soon afterwards 

 with a souvenir in the shape of a large silver flask, on one side 

 of which was inscribed ' Reviriscat,' and on the other the 

 following lines composed by himself: — 



"SEMPER FIDELIS.* 



" Semper Fidelis — proud Motto — none less 

 1 Cat' Richardson's Image could truly portray . 

 Still in faith and in love let me add ' Reviriscat ' 

 In those happy hunting fields far, far away." 



In March, 1873, Reviriscat, ridden by that popular gentle- 

 man rider and fine horseman, the late Captain " Wenty " Hope 

 Johnstone, whose first ride it was in the race, ran in the Grand 

 National, for which, though heavily backed by his owners and 

 friends, he made no show against Disturbance, the mount of 

 Mr. Richardson. 



Mr. Ned Maxwell was never happier than when writing 

 poetry of his own composing, and so sanguine was he of 

 success on this particular occasion, that he actually took this 



* The Richardson family motto. 

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