FAMOUS CHASERS AND THEIR RIDERS. 3S3 



pound must inevitably be fatal to the bearer's chance of 

 success. This ridiculous view was solemnly advocated day 

 after day in some of the sporting papers ; how much it was 

 entertained by those who were prepared to back their opinions 

 with their purses was conclusively shown by the fact that for 

 weeks before the race Cloister with 12 st. 7 lbs. was a strong 

 first favourite to his stable companion, The Midshipmite, 

 the only rival for a considerable period that even threatened 

 his supremacy. Mr. Arthur Yates, who superintended the 

 training of both, the owners being his friends — for it must be 

 understood that Swatton, w^hose name stands as trainer at 

 Alresford, acts under the direction of his master — could not 

 make up his mind which was the better of the pair, so much 

 had Midshipmite ' come on ; ' but Cloister's two seconds 

 secured him the preference with the public, and most naturally 

 so. This good horse, the property of Mr. Charles Duff, an 

 enthusiast at the sport, kept his place firmly in the market, and 

 ultimately started at the short odds of 4 to i, being, however, 

 pressed at the last by Why Not, who was declared by his 

 accomplished jockey, Arthur Nightingall, and other of his 

 friends, to have come back to his best form. The belief was 

 not shared by many experienced lovers of chasing, who knew 

 how very rarely a horse of A\ hy Not's age does recover his 

 form when he has once lost it. /Esop, an ex-hunter of 

 moderate antecedents, but a son of the good horse Chippendale, 

 had also many supporters at the finish. 



A National has never before been won with such ease. 

 DoUery, who knew Cloister well, having constantly ridden him 

 in races and in his work, justified Mr. Dormer's tactics of the 

 year before by taking the horse to the front early in the race in 

 spite of his weight, and he kept his place at the head of affairs 

 with so little semblance of effort that he was allowed to 

 stride along at his own pace. Nothing, in fact, had the very 

 faintest chance with him from start to finish. The race was 

 practically over w'hen half the distance was covered, for of all 

 chasers Cloister Avas the least likely to fall. A huge concourse 



