28o iRibiiiG IRecollections ant) Uixvt Stones 



Captain Coventry won the Grand National Hunt on 

 Mr. Chaplin's 'Emperor III.' It was a very big course 

 indeed, and they finished up a severe hill. * The 

 Doctor' was carrying 12 st. 7 lb., and a very useful 

 horse named ' Albrighton ' 10 st. 4 lb. After a 

 tremendous race, ' The Doctor ' was just beaten a 

 neck. Several other good horses ran in that race, 

 and I recollect that one called 'Musketeer' broke 

 his back at the last fence but one. ' Musketeer ' 

 was considered very smart, and they had refused 

 ^2,000 — a big price in those days — for him that 

 very morning. After this ' The Doctor ' was given 

 top weight in every handicap, and he never seemed 

 to be allowed a chance. I don't think he ran for 

 about a couple of years, until in 1870, when he was 

 second for the Liverpool, carrying 1 1 st. 6 lb. to ' The 

 Colonel ' 1 1 St. 1 2 lb, ' The Colonel ' had won the 

 previous year, and I consider him to be one of the 

 best steeplechase horses I ever saw. Although ' The 

 Doctor ' failed on that occasion, he made a bold 

 attempt, and after a gallant struggle was beaten by 

 half a length. It was after this race that the 

 Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

 summoned George Holman before the magistrates 

 for cruelty, and as their only evidence was from 

 what they read in the newspapers, of course the 

 case was dismissed. 



