The Life of a Great Sportsman 



entrusted Schiedam to his care. Richardson rode him and 

 won easily. His friend Lord Melgund rode in the same race 

 (under the assumed name of " Mr. Roily ") a horse belonging 

 to Baron Rothschild called Ledburn. This victory enhanced 

 Captain Machell's appreciation of Richardson's brilliant horse- 

 manship, and in '73 he won the Grand National on Disturb- 

 ance, and in '74 on Reugny. It was said then that no one 

 ever had a better seat or hands, and to the end of his days 

 every one recognized these qualities. 



Richardson hunted a little in the Vale of Aylesbury, and 

 to this day Mr. Castle of Thame talks of a great run with 

 the Rothschild Staghounds, in which he and Richardson 

 were the only two who saw the end. He boasts, however, 

 that at one of the last fences Richardson's horse fell, 

 and that he caught it and they rode side by side to the 

 finish. Castle, who delights in speaking French, says that 

 they made a joke about him and said he was " chateau en 

 l'air," because they had jumped so many fences. The good 

 horse that Castle rode was sold to Lord Rothschild (then 

 Sir Nathaniel). 



The friendships commenced at Cambridge by Richardson 

 lasted through his life, and many of his friends always asked 

 his advice as to how they could get good horses, and he was 

 always ready to help them. In fact, every year since we left 

 the University he always sent me a trusty hunter, and in the 

 well-known sporting sketch by Finch Mason, in which Whyte 

 Melville, turning round to a few riders, says, " Now then, 

 gentlemen, you're coming over the most beautiful part of the 

 Vale " (" Old Days in the Vale of Aylesbury "), I am depicted 

 riding a chestnut called Cornet, by Codrington, the first horse 

 Richardson sent me. This was followed by many others, all 

 good jumpers, and all selected with the greatest care. I am 



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