The Life of a Great Sportsman 



The Cup and the Hardwicke Stakes. 



The Gold Cup was originally established in 1807, and was 

 won by Master Jackey (3 yrs. 6st.-2), beating three others. 

 After that it went steadily on until 1845, in which year, by way 

 of a delicate compliment to the Emperor Nicholas of Russia, 

 who was over here on a visit, its name was altered to that 

 of " The Emperor's Plate," to revert again to its old title 

 in 1854. 



In all there have been five dead-heats for the Gold Cup 

 since the first race in 1807. The most recent was that between 

 The White Knight and Eider in 1907, the French horse being 

 subsequently disqualified for boring. 



The rich Hardwicke Stakes, established in 1879, is another 

 race which has brought out many famous animals to compete, 

 perhaps the most memorable struggle in its history being that 

 between Ormonde and Minting in 1887, ridden respectively 

 by Tom Cannon and John Osborne, when the former just won, 

 amidst a scene of excitement seldom witnessed at Ascot. 

 Bendigo, who was a good third, though he did not get any- 

 thing like the credit due to him for it, put in a really won- 

 derful performance in the circumstances. Being stabled close 

 to the course, his rest had been so interfered with of nights by 

 the incessant noise that went on in the various booths and 

 shows that the good old horse was thoroughly upset and off 

 his feed, so much so that it was only at the very last moment 

 that his owner decided to run him. If there was one thing 

 that annoyed Mr. Barclay more than another it was to see his 

 favourite, as was frequently the case, described in the sporting 

 papers as a mere " handicap horse," and I fancy there are few 

 who know anything at all about form who won't sympathize 

 with him. 



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