A GREAT YEAR 



six lengths beating. Many racegoers, however, not 

 knowing this, held to the opinion that a horse who had 

 been on the point of death so short a time previously 

 could not beat Mr. J. H. Houldsworth's very useful 

 Orvieto or the French colt Gouverneur — who had 

 been second to Common for the Derby the previous 

 season — both being strongly fancied, and certainly 

 Orvieto made a good fight. An excuse was advanced 

 for his defeat, it being stated that a quantity of hay, the 

 grass having been cut just before the meeting, had 

 been forced on to the course and had hampered 

 Orvieto, who galloped through it ; but excuses are 

 usually futile, and Orme should be allowed full credit. 

 His race did him good. At Goodwood he beat his 

 stable companion Watercress for the Sussex Stakes, 

 and it is still a matter of controversy whether he ought 

 or ought not to have won the Leger. On the morning 

 of the race I went out on the course at Doncaster to 

 see the horses at work, and lighted upon John Porter, 

 telling him that I had backed La Fleche, and asking 

 him whether that was a wise or a foolish proceeding ? 

 He gave me to understand that in his opinion the filly 

 had certainly a good chance. Orme started favourite 

 at 1 1 to 8 on, in spite of which La Fleche stood at 

 7 to 2, and as history records readily disposed of her 

 Epsom conqueror Sir Hugo — as she did on several 

 other occasions. For the rest, Orme won the great 

 Foal Stakes at the Newmarket First October Meeting, 



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