180 THE ENGLISH TURF 



be taken as a fact, the evidence in favour of this theory, 

 as set out in John Porter's book Kingsclere, being over- 

 whelming. It was in April that the horse was at death's 

 door, but, thanks to a strong constitution, he was sufficiently 

 recovered to run at Sandown in mid- July, though it should 

 be added that he was still short of jflesh and muscle, and in 

 nothing like the condition in which he was subsequently seen. 

 However, the opposition did not seem very strong and 

 Orme started favourite, while Orvieto and Gouverneur — 

 second to Surefoot in the preceding year — were also well 

 backed. As they came up the straight, Orvieto, who was 

 on the extreme right, hung to the right, and thus had to 

 gallop for something like a hundred yards in long grass, 

 besides giving away probably a length or two in extra 

 distance. He had gone off the mown course, and it is 

 quite on the cards that this lost him the race. As it was 

 he fought out a desperate finish with Orme, but the younger 

 one struggled with bulldog courage, and amidst tremendous 

 excitement did the trick by a neck. Then ensued such a 

 scene as is rarely seen on a racecourse. The vast concourse 

 of people rose en masse and cheered until they were hoarse. 

 From the course, from the rings, from the Club Stand, and 

 even from that part of the stand which is reserved for 

 members of the Jockey Club and their friends, the out- 

 break was unanimous. The most reserved of individuals 

 caught the infection for once, and those who witnessed the 

 scene will never forget it. For five minutes, at least, the 

 huge crowd stood where it was, the cheers being renewed 

 time after time, and the excitement only subsiding when 

 the numbers went up for the next race. It was a public 

 tribute to the gameness of a gallant horse, who had un- 

 doubtedly lost the Derby owing to foul play, and as such 

 it will be handed down as long as Turf history is recorded. 



In 1893 Orme was again successful, and this time he beat 

 his stable companion. La Fleche, who started favourite 

 at evens, while Orme stood at 2 to i. It will be remembered 

 that in the previous autumn, two months after Orme's first 

 Eclipse success, La Fleche had won the St. Leger, turning 

 the tables on her Epsom conqueror. Sir Hugo, and that 



