"RODDY OWEN" 95 



horse again pecked. Thereupon he decided to 

 try his luck on Father O'Flynn, a rank outsider 

 and a most difficult mount, on whom he easily 

 won the big event; he seemed to be the only 

 jockey who could induce this speedy son of 

 Retreat to gallop up to his best form. 



Whatever Major Owen did he did quickly, and 

 never seemed to get in the least flurried. In- 

 deed, he may be said to have gracefully travelled 

 through life with a first-class ticket. Riding the 

 winner, dining at the best clubs, dancing at balls, 

 drilling with his regiment, or camping out in the 

 desert, his career was dazzling and varied, but 

 never prosaic. 



Although the scion of a good family, Major 

 Owen occupied the unremunerative position of a 

 younger son ; all the same he managed to extract 

 a maximum enjoyment out of the means at his 

 command. There were many possibilities for so 

 attractive a man. He might retire to the colonies, 

 win a fortune on the Turf, turn gentleman-trainer, 

 or marry an heiress. However, he did none of 

 these. In a sense, " Roddy Owen " lived a very 

 complete life, for he achieved his ambition when he 

 won the Grand National. He enjoyed excellent 

 health and spirits before he fell a victim to cholera 

 in his prime. So long as men of his stamp hold 

 commissions in our army, England will continue 

 to be a great and conquering nation. Major 

 Owen's pleasant, smiling face and manly accom- 

 plishments will be remembered for life by those 

 who were fortunate enough to know him. Nor will 

 they be easily forgotten by those who attended the 



