A GREAT MATCH 



A contemporary writer relates that the vast 

 crowd seemed quite stunned by the result, and were 

 hardly able to realize that such a giant as the 

 Flying Dutchman had fallen at last. His backers 

 moved about pale and silent, and the unhappy 

 jockey stood by the weighing-room in a flood of 

 tears, while Lord Eglinton endeavoured to soothe 

 his disappointment with some kindly words. On 

 the other hand, the Voltigeur idolaters were 

 absolutely demoralized by the wonder of their 

 champion's victory. That night it was high revel 

 at the Salutation and at every crammed hostelry 

 in the old town. Yorkshire ale foamed in the 

 glasses. Farmers, graziers, and clothiers ate, drank, 

 and danced with the inn servants. To an inquiry 

 whether he was going to bed, a stout Yorkshireman 

 shouted back indignantly in the rich vernacular, 

 "Go to bed, indeed ! Who'd go to bed when 

 Voltigeur 's won the Leger and the Cup ? " 



" After Calais," as a wise wit once said, " nothing 

 surprises." The racing world that autumn and 

 winter talked of little but the Doncaster battle 

 of the giants, and of their respective merits. It 

 had been so even a contest that sporting opinion 

 was keenly divided. At length Lord Zetland and 

 Lord Eglinton agreed to a match. The venue 

 was to be York, for a thousand guineas a side, two 

 miles over the old course, at the Spring Meeting 

 on May 13th. The handicapping was entrusted 

 to Captain Rous. This was the gallant sailor's 

 first notable handicap. He had been in 1841 



on the Flying Dutchman for the Doncaster Cup he was not sober, 

 and that his riding of the horse was flagrantly contrary to the 

 orders he had received 



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