Major J. A. Orr-Ewing 



it was not long before the " Weasel" — by which name he was 

 familiarly known to his intimates — began to be looked upon as 

 the crack man of the regiment, many of the regimental cups 

 falling to his share during the time he was riding. Punchestown, 

 too, was a favourite battlefield of his, and he rode many an 

 important winner there during the time the regiment was 

 quartered in Ireland. It was at this period that Major Orr- 

 Ewing became the owner of the celebrated Cloister. His 

 brother John first " spotted " the son of Ascetic as a three- 

 year-old when the property of Mr. Milliard, a son-in-law of 

 James Daley, and could have bought him easily for ^^150. 

 Being much struck with the horse, he tried all he knew to 

 persuade the " Weasel " to buy him, but Cloister was such a big 

 ungainly colt that the latter would have nothing to say to him. 

 Eventually, however, after seeing him do a nice gallop in the 

 Phoenix Park one morning he changed his mind, and bought 

 him for ;^45o. It is not generally known that Cloister made 

 his dS2ii( as a steeplechaser in the i6th Lancers Subalterns' Cup 

 at the Fairyhouse meeting, with his owner in the saddle. 



" How much do you want on ? " inquired his brother. 



'* I hate betting when riding," was the reply, *'but you can 

 put me fifty on this time, if you like." 



And this was accordingly done, the family commissioner 

 backing him freely, on his own account, at the same time ; and 

 it is pleasant to know that the "good thing" duly came off, 

 Cloister winning with the greatest ease. His next race was the 

 Irish Grand Military at Punchestown in 1888. The "Weasel" 

 — who was, of course, going to ride — and his brother John 

 were both quartered in Dublin at the time, and another brother 

 had come over to the Irish capital as well, for the express 

 purpose of seeing him win. 



Imagine their horror when a telegram arrived the day before 



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