604 A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



Tempest ; while in 1870 came the memorable finish between The Colonel and the 

 club-footed horse The Doctor, ridden by the late George Holman. George Stevens, 

 as was his wont, lay behind until the second time round, when, after the brook had 

 been jumped, he brought up The Colonel, who took a leading position, the race 

 being then confined to The Colonel, The Doctor, and Mr. R. W. Brockton's pulling 

 mare, Primrose, who, but for her failing, would have won more races than she did. 

 The Colonel eventually beat The Doctor by a neck, Primrose being a length behind 

 the second. Subsequently George Holman was summoned by the R.S.P.C.A. for 

 excessive whipping and spurring ; but the case was dismissed. 



In the hands of Mr. "Thomas," The Lamb won the National again in 1871. 

 Whether Mr. "Edwards," who won on The Lamb in 1868, would, in ordinary 

 course, have been in the saddle is not known. Mr. Thomas, however, was put up in 

 consequence of Lord Poulett's dream, or rather two dreams. In the first The Lamb 

 finished last ; in the second he won, ridden by Mr. Thomas. Thereupon Lord 

 Poulett wrote off to "My dear Tommy," asking him to ride for him (Lord Poulett) 

 at Liverpool. The dream came off, The Lamb winning by two lengths. The 

 winner was almost carried to the weighing inclosure, and Mr. Thomas was well-nigh 

 dragged from the saddle, so great was the enthusiasm of the moment. The Lamb, 

 bred in Ireland in 1862, was by Zouave out of a mare by Arthur, the last-named 

 a famous Irish sire. Zouave was bred and owned by Mr. Courtenay, who owned 

 Mat hew, the first Irish horse to win the National. He had a varied career, for 

 he was, at one time, not thought worth ^"25 as a boy's hunter. Mr. E. Studd, the 

 owner of Salamander, once had the refusal of him ; but contemptuously declined the 

 deal on the ground that the horse could not carry a pair of boots. Yet in this very 

 race he beat Mr. Studd's Despatch, who ran second to him. It has often been said 

 that The Lamb was a pony ; but, as a matter of fact, he stood a full 15.2, though as 

 a four-year-old he was no more than 15 hands. It is a curious coincidence that all 

 connected with The Lamb were unfortunate. After Lord Poulett's death, difficulties 

 arose concerning his successor to the title ; Ben Land, the trainer, died by his own 

 hand ; Mr. Edwards, who rode the horse when he won the first time, was killed at 

 Liverpool, as already mentioned ; The Lamb himself broke his leg at Baden-Baden 

 in 1872, and was killed, after his owner, Baron Oppenheim, had given 1,200 guineas 

 for him. 



The winner in 1872 was Mr. Brayley's Casse Ttte, a light, washy chestnut, one 

 of the worst, some people said, that ever won the National. Nevertheless, in the 



