DORCAS 49 



MATHEW DAWSON 



However, one can at least find true pleasure at 

 Newmarket by being up betimes and going to see 

 the horses gallop, whether it results in one finding out 

 the winner or not. On Friday I had the great pleasure 

 and advantage of being in company with Mathew 

 Dawson on the race-course side, and as I was presently 

 joined by Tom Jennings, sen., and Marsh I could not 

 well have been better placed. Mathew Dawson has 

 had over fifty years' experience as a trainer, and has 

 been for a long time the acknowledged head of the 

 craft. When the late Lord Falmouth broke up his 

 stud seven years ago, Mr Dawson at first intended to 

 retire, and his nephew, George, was advanced to a 

 position of responsibility, which he has since continued 

 to occupy to the great satisfaction of his employer, the 

 Duke of Portland. Mr Dawson, however, was far too 

 fresh and hale and hearty to be contented with retire- 

 ment, so he soon was at work again, and though it 

 took some years before he got such good horses under 

 his charge as before, there can be no question that he 

 has managed to do so this season. Indeed it may be 

 questioned whether any man ever trained at the same 

 time five such excellent three-year-old fillies as Mimi, 

 Melody, Mons Meg, Dorcas and Corstorphine. It is 

 by no means certain that any one of the five could not 

 win the Derby, but Dorcas happens to be the only one 

 entered, and consequently our attention centred on her 

 for a moment. 



DORCAS 



Dorcas is a very good-looking chestnut filly, with a 

 big black birth spot on her quarters, which tells of her 



