102 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



Dutchman met on the Cup day, the Aske stable sending 

 forth its champion bearing " spots " against the 

 " Eglinton tartan." Job Marson being unable to ride 

 the weight, the mount on " Volti " was given to Nat 

 Flatman, Marlow riding " The Dutchman," who made 

 terrific running, but the pace gradually told upon him, 

 for after passing the Red House the lead was diminished 

 and at the distance Nat was at " The Dutchman's " 

 quarters. " Volti's got him, Volti's got him ! " shouted 

 Bobby Hill in an agony of delight, and as the story goes 

 the million took up the cry. The Dutchman's flag 

 was hauled down for the first time, and Voltigeur, 

 amidst such a scene of excitement as an English course 

 can alone give rise to, was declared one of the best 

 horses of the century, and one who had fully realised 

 the honours expected of him as a foal and a yearling. 



From this memorable Doncaster Cup race between 

 Voltigeur and " The Dutchman," the great match 

 between the pair originated, and came off over 

 two miles of the Knavesmire at York in the 

 following spring for 1000 a side. William 

 Osborne once said, there was "mair folk on the 

 Knavesmire that day than ever seen before, and 

 would ever be seen again." " The Dutchman," however, 

 asserted his superiority, and although excuses were 

 offered for the Yorkshire idol, he was fairly defeated 

 in a struggle in which all but honour was lost. Volti- 

 geur came out the following day, and was beaten when 

 attempting to concede 32 Ibs. to Nancy, who was well 

 ridden by Johnnie Osborne. 



As a sire he left the stamp of his excellences on such 

 celebrities of the turf as Vedette, Skirmisher, Bivouac, 

 Sabreur, Bumblekite, Geant des Batailles, Brennus, 

 Fragrance, and Falkland. Voltigeur was a great 



