Mr. F. G. Hobson 



in Kent. Many hunters' races on the flat, too, fell to the 

 popular owner of the violet and black cap, notably the Thirsk 

 Hunt Cup on Roscrea, for the present Lord Feversham (then 

 the Hon. Ernest Duncombe), and a race at Canterbury in the 

 colours of Mr. Randolph Stewart, beating a hot favourite in 

 Romney, the mount of that accomplished horseman, Mr. 

 William Bevill. 



Captain Riddell appeared for the last time in public at the 

 National Hunt Meeting at Aylesbury in 1874, when he rode 

 Minster for the late Lord Wilton in the National Hunt 

 Steeplechase. 



Though the meeting was an immense success in other ways, 

 only twelve horses faced the starter, the size of the fences 

 frightening away some of the others. Minster fell, and un- 

 fortunately broke her rider's collar-bone ; Lucellum, belonging 

 to Mr. Vyner, and ridden by Captain Smith, winning easily at 

 last by two lengths. 



Mr. F. G. hobson 



In the late sixties and early seventies of the past century, 

 there were few better known or more popular colours at the 

 different steeplechase meetings around London than the 

 scarlet, white belt, and black cap of Mr. F. J. Hobson. 

 And very much to the fore were these same colours on those 

 occasions, it being odd indeed if the day terminated without 

 •• Freddy," notwithstanding his eccentric habit of hanging on 

 to the back of his saddle with his right hand at his fences, 

 being accredited with some of the spoils of the day. His 



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