SOME EARLY VICTORIAN OWNERS. 



505 



too, and his only defeat in sixteen races came from the son of Voltaire and 

 Martha Lynn, who was foaled a year later than himself. Lord Zetland's Voltigezir 

 thoroughly delighted the Yorkshiremen with his brilliant Derby victory of 1850, 

 which cost " Leviathan " Davies about .50,000. The scene at that year's 

 St. Leger was a remarkable one. To the dismay of all the Tykes, within the last 

 hundred yards an outsider named Russborough crept up to their favourite's girths 

 when all the field seemed beaten. Neck and neck they raced to the post ; head 

 to head they flashed past the judge's box ; there was an interval of terrible 

 suspense ; then it was known that 

 the Irishman had made a dead heat 

 of it. Bobby Hill, who had trained 

 Lord Zetland's crack, looked as if 

 he would never get over it. Those 

 who looked on then would barely 

 have believed that the colt's owner 

 had almost struck him out of the 

 Derby, and that Sir William Milner, 

 who held Billy Williamson's opinion 

 of his excellence, had himself sent 

 the ^400 to Messrs. Weatherby on 

 the last Monday, in order at least 

 to ensure getting a run for the 

 . 1 0,000 to .150 he had taken about 

 Voltigeur with Lord Enfield, after- 

 wards Earl Strafford. He was a dark 

 brown, rather above 15.3 in height, 

 without a spot of white except a 

 little on the off hind foot. His rather coarse and large head was held by a 

 very muscular, stallion-like neck. His shoulders were very fine and sloping, 

 with powerful quarters drooping towards a somewhat shabby tail, muscular 

 thighs, good hocks, and plenty of bone. Russborough was a dark chestnut, 

 rather like his celebrated mother Cruiskeen. There were only eight starters. 

 It was when Marson steadied his horse halfway up the distance, the pace having 

 been made very hot by Beehunter, that Jem Robinson swooped down on him 

 like a hawk, and so nearly won. There was some talk of the Irishman being 



VOL. III. G 



Jem Robinson. 



