Count JSattbimn\? 105 



even if he had not won ; but perhaps it was 

 asking him to do something above his form to beat 

 ' Macaroni ' and ' Lord Clifden.' 



It was after this Derby of 1863 that Wells dis- 

 agreed with Count — afterwards Prince — Batthyany, 

 whose horse ' Tambour Major ' had kept us waiting 

 at the starting-post more than half an hour. The colt 

 was a bit awkward, and Wells lost his temper, and 

 gave him a most cruel hiding. He broke his own 

 whip, and borrowed a cane from a man who was 

 riding a horse outside the course, with which he 

 waled him frightfully. The fact of the matter was, 

 Wells wanted to ride ' King of the Vale ' for Baron 

 Rothschild, whose chance was fancied very much, 

 but Count Batthyany had second call on his services, 

 and claimed him to ride ' Tambour Major,' After 

 the race, the Count went to look at the horse, and 

 saw all the cuts and wales on him. He was a very 

 humane old gentleman, and could not bear to see 

 his horses ill-used, so he sent for Wells, and cen- 

 sured him for knocking the horse about. Wells 

 immediately turned round and said : 



•' I think you ought to ride such horses your- 

 self." 



The Count replied : "I cannot ride so well as 

 you myself, but I can find plenty of jockeys who 



