"' SCEPTRE' WINS!" 699 



Manton were not the least happy in that delighted throng. Taylor finished third 

 on the list of winning trainers for 1903 with ,18,731. With Rock Sand alone 

 winning over ,18,000, G. Blackwell had not much trouble in putting Newmarket 

 at the head of the Trainers' List of 1903 for the fifth time in seven years, making 

 the fine total of ,34,146 for the season, in which Cinquefoil, Rondeau, Pharisee, 

 Cossack, Chanter, Flotsam, Oriole, and Extradition all assisted, under the colours 

 of Sir James Miller, Sir D. Cooper, and Lord Rosebery. 



If Sceptre had not won the Jockey Club Stakes, she would probably have gone 

 for the Cesarewitch at gst. 7lb. But a memorable alternative was given to the 

 public in the Duke of York Stakes at Kempton in October, which came off nine 

 days afterwards, and she carried gst. 4lb., with fourteen in the field against her, 

 on one of the rare fine days that season. She seemed sore after her racing plates 

 had been put on, and a rumour spread like smoke among the crowd. But as 



By permission of the "Illustrated Finish of '" Sceptre's " St. Leger (1902). 



Sporting and Dramatic .Vews." 



soon as her exercise shoes were put on she seemed all right again. However, 

 that meant increased weight, and increased suction on the heavy ground. The 

 odds were 13 to 8 on her at the start. Soarazvay made running to the bend, then 

 Happy Slave took it up. Sceptre never came out of the ruck till a quarter of 

 a mile from home. Then Madden sent her along, and in a furlong's length she 

 was within four lengths of Happy Slave, whose jockey stuck to the rails. Madden 

 had to challenge on the outside with barely a hundred yards to cover, and he 

 found himself obliged to use his whip. The mare responded in the most gallant 

 style, and just won on the post, conceding 4olb. to Happy Slave, 26lb. to Glass 

 lug; the third, and 2 lib. to the Oaks winner, O^^r Lassie, who was fifth. Mr. 

 Sievier, such is the irony that sometimes touches the fate of every racing man, 

 had trained Happy Slave. After that, she won the Champion Stakes, while 

 Quintessence secured the Newmarket Oaks, and the Cheveley Park Stakes were 



