FAMOUS HORSES 73 



Handicap, where he gave two stone to Mephisto and 

 won In a canter by eight lengths, ending his year's 

 labours — thouoh in fact there had been no labour 

 about his performances, except possibly for a few 

 strides in the Derby — by walking over for a Private 

 Sweepstakes on the last day of the Houghton 

 meeting. 



During the winter an ugly rumour became current 

 that Ormonde had begun to " make a noise," and the 

 story was in fact too true. Notwithstanding, backers 

 were content to lay 4 to i on him for the Rous 

 Memorial at Ascot, when he beat Kilwarlin by six 

 lengths ; the race, however, leaving no sort of doubt 

 as to the noise. In the Hardwicke Stakes, therefore, 

 it was supposed that his old rival Minting would have 

 a great chance against him ; and for the first time for 

 more than a year Ormonde started at reasonable odds, 

 5 to 4 on, 7 to 4 being taken about Minting. They 

 carried even weights, 9 st. 10 lbs. each ; but, hampered 

 as he was by his infirmity, Ormonde held his own, only 

 winning by a neck, it is true ; but Tom Cannon, who 

 rode him, let it be understood that he could have 

 somewhat increased the distance had it been desirable, 

 the race not having been quite so close a thing as 

 it appeared to spectators. His final appearance was 

 made at the Newmarket July Meeting, over the last 

 six furlongs of the Bunbury mile, for the Imperial 

 Gold Cup ; and this time, though the verdict was in 

 his favour, he had to be driven in order to shake off 



