Mr. W. R. Brockton 



anything, when, in company with The Colonel and The 

 Doctor, she landed on the racecourse the last time round, 

 but tired soon afterwards, and could only get third, a neck 

 behind The Doctor, who was the same distance behind the 

 winner. The following week, at Cottenham, she beat The 

 Doctor by five lengths in a ^400 steeplechase over four 

 miles. 



In 1872, Primrose (11 st. 4 lbs.), ridden, as before, by her 

 owner, who understood her peculiar temperament better than 

 anybody, again ran in the Grand National, for which she 

 started at 100 to 6. Whatever chance she might have pos- 

 sessed — and it was considered a great one by her owner — 

 was quickly knocked on the head, as she fell heavily at the 

 second fence in the country, the last time round, her back 

 being broken either by the fall or from being jumped on by 

 Schiedam, necessitating immediate destruction ; her jockey at 

 the same time being very seriously injured. Primrose, a 

 chestnut mare, by Bonnyfield — Rosebud, Bonnyfield by West 

 Australian — Queen Mary, was bought as a two-year-old, when 

 unbroken, by her owner, who won nineteen steeplechases and 

 hurdle races on her. No Arab ever loved his steed with more 

 devotion than did Mr. Brockton the wayward and excitable 

 Primrose, and, apart from all monetary consideration (he had 

 refused more than one tempting offer for her), the loss 

 of his favourite was naturally a great source of grief to 

 this true sportsman, who, though owner of many a good 

 horse in his time, both before and since, never had one 

 in his stable he set so much store by as the ill-fated mare in 

 question. 



Moorhen (the dam of Gallinule and Pioneer), by Hermit, 

 her dam by Skirmisher out of Vertumna by Stockwell, was 

 another favourite mare, on whom her owner won sixteen races 



III 



