2o8 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



himself. This appHes to the two later entries, 

 Ascetic Silver and Covert Coat. 



It is satisfactory to know Mat Maher s brother, 

 Captain George Maher, carries on the Stud formerly 

 owned by Mat. George Maher, for some years in 

 the 7th Dragoon Guards, figured in the Sporting 

 Press as one of the best men to hounds in 

 Ireland. 



By far the greater majority of horses that are 

 put to jumping are geldings. The reasons for this 

 are obvious. They require less work than entire 

 horses, are much more amenable to discipline, and 

 are less inclined to be tricky and unreliable. Com- 

 paratively few mares are put to the game, hence 

 we have to go back as far as the second year of the 

 present century to find the gentler sex successful. 

 That occurred when Shannon Lass scored a very 

 popular win for Mr Ambrose Gorham, who still 

 owns and likes to talk of that heroine's victory. 

 In all, however, since Lottery won in the inaugural 

 year, 1839, only ten mares have been successful. 

 Of these, Emblem and Emblematic were own 

 sisters by the 1851 Derby winner, Teddington, and 

 successive heroines. 



Here are ofiven the ten mares who have 

 been Grand National winners, with particulars 

 of their owners, riders, pedigree, full age and 

 weight : 



