146 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



The winning of the Derby by Hermit brings out 

 in full force the astuteness and resource of Captain 

 Machell. The horse started at 66 to i by reason 

 of his having burst a blood-vessel some three weeks 

 prior to the race. With the exception of Captain 

 Machell, all connected with the horse vowed it was 

 impossible to get him fit and were striking him 

 out. Not so the Captain. I well remember his 

 telling me he could keep him going in sufficient 

 work to get him fit, notwithstanding the possible 

 chance of his breakingr another blood-vessel. 

 Accordingly Hermit did all his work on the western 

 side of the Newmarket course ; this gallop, going 

 the reverse way, is down-hill. Here Hermit com- 

 pleted his preparation, doing mile work each day, 

 and after every spin was walked back to the top 

 of the hill. It is said that the Captain won 

 upwards of ;i^6o,ooo. 



I don't imagine that even the Captain's best friend 

 would insinuate that he was a sfood horseman 

 himself. When in the army he more than once 

 aspired to military race riding honours, and suc- 

 ceeded in winning events at Aldershot and other 

 places. His aspirations carried him so far as an 

 effort to win the Grand Military Gold Cup in 1863 

 on a mare called Jealousy by The Cure out of 

 Jewess, who had thrice run for the Liverpool Grand 

 National, being once a winner, in 1861, when ridden 



