Gentlemen Riders 



CAPTAIN RASBOTHAM 



In spite of the difficulty in obtaining the necessary leave, 

 as compared with formerly, the Army has still plenty of good 

 men and true to represent it on the race-course, and of recent 

 years it would be hard to select from their number a better 

 for the purpose than the accomplished horseman named 

 above. 



In 1897, th^ subject of our memoir was appointed to the 

 King's Dragoon Guards, and in the same year rode his first 

 race in public on a horse called Sugar Plum, at Colchester, 

 since which time he has been riding with conspicuous success ; 

 first of all in Ireland, and afterwards (from 1901) in England 

 and over the border. His most successful year was probably 

 in 1905, when, amongst other victories, he won the Scottish 

 Grand National Steeplechase of ^440, over three and a half 

 miles, at the Eglinton Hunt meeting, held in April of that 

 year, on Theodocian, by Marcian — Minthe, who, starting at 

 100 to 12, won by three lengths from eleven others, including 

 such horses as Prince Tuscan, and Court Flavour and Funchal, 

 of whom the latter started favourite at 9 to 4. With the 

 exception of Mr. Bulteel, who rode Drunkerrin, all the other 

 riders in this race were professionals. 



This victory was some consolation for an annoying series 

 of seconds and thirds in the Grand Military meeting at 

 Sandown a fortnight previously, which first-named more or 

 less thankless position he occupied in the race for the Gold 

 Cup when riding Do Be Quick, who, starting a warm 

 favourite at 2 to i, was beaten by Ruy Lopez, the mount of 

 Captain Stacpoole; whilst later in the afternoon he was third 



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