6o6 



A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 



seen between the flags. This was at Huntingdon, about 1865, when he won easily, 

 in spite of a broken stirrup-leather. In the course of his career he won the two 

 Grand Nationals above mentioned ; the Croydon United Kingdom Steeplechase 

 (twice) on Disturbance and Fur ley ; two Leamington Grand Annual Steeplechases 

 on Furley and Schiedam, and many other races. Mr. Richardson gave up riding 

 in 1874, so when Captain Machell won the National in 1876 with Regal, Joseph 

 Cannon was in the saddle. 



The race of 1877 was something of a surprise. At minor and provincial 

 steeplechases there was no better-known rider than Mr. F. G. Hobson, who 

 was quite good on the flat, but had the curious habit of catching hold of the 



back of his saddle with 

 his right hand at every 

 fence he jumped ; and 

 his quickness in taking 

 hold and letting go was 

 quite remarkable. In 

 the National, however 

 (1877), he elected to ride 

 his own horse, Ansterlitz, 

 and won by four lengths. 

 There is nothing par- 

 ticularly historical about 

 Shifnafs year (1878); 

 but in 1879 Mr. Moore's 

 old Irish horse, 1 he 

 Liberator, unplaced in 1876 and third in the following year, was successful in the 

 hands of his son, Mr. Garry Moore. The Liberator was a wonderfully consistent 

 performer, and was, therefore, always a favourite with race-goers. He was bred 

 in Ireland, by Mr. Stokes of Mount Hawk in 1869, so that he was ten years 

 old when he won at Liverpool. He is not supposed to have run until he was 

 five years old, and that was at Cork Park. In less than a year afterwards 

 he changed hands at 600 guineas ; made his first appearance in the National in 

 1876, when he fell ; and at Sewell's Repository, Dublin, he failed to bring a bid for 

 his reserve price -a thousand guineas. Thereupon, Mr. Garrett Moore bought a 

 half share in him for 500 guineas. He did not run in 1878, but won in 1879, was 



Sando-wn. The Grand Military Cold Cup. " Marpcssa" 

 and Major Onslow on the right, " Ambush II." and 

 Captain the Hon. R. Ward on the left. 



