THE FRENCH JOCKEY CLUB 33 



torical. In point of years he was about the ' father ' 

 of the French Jockey Ckib, and he had been improving 

 the breed of French horses, to tlie best of his abihty, 

 for some thirty years before 1833. He was apparently 

 a prosperous timber merchant, or something of that 

 kind, and at the latter part of his life a lieutenant- 

 colonel in the National Guard. As early as 1805, or 

 even before, he had formed a stud at Buc, not far from 

 Versailles, whence he removed to Viroflay, where tliere 

 had always been a stud within the memory of man, and 

 where his efforts were seconded by the Government 

 until the events of 1815 interfered with his progress. 

 He recommenced his labours, however, as soon as 

 possible, though Avith scantier means ; made three 

 trips at least to England, and brought home with him 

 several English thoroughbred mares and horses, includ- 

 ing Rainbow, already mentioned, with whose son Felix 

 he won, in 1834, tlie Grand Prix at Paris, which of 

 course must not be confounded with the Grand Prix de 

 Paris. Unfortunately M. Rieussec had but compara- 

 tively little chance of seeing his colours — sky blue and 

 red cap — borne to tlie front, for he was one of those 

 eighteen who fell victims to tlie murderous attempt 

 made by Fieschi upon Louis Philippe's life on July 

 28, 1835. His daughter, Madame Cazalot, however, 

 won several races with his horses ; and he had already set 

 his mark very distinctly on the French Turf, whereon 

 his memory is perpetuated by the Prix Rainbow, the 

 Prix Rieussec, and the Prix de Viroflay at the Paris 

 Spring Meeting. ' M. Rieussec,' said an obituary notice 

 of him, ' un des premiers employ a ses connaissances et 

 sa fortune a former un haras modele en France dans sa 

 belle propriete de Viroflay. Sa mort est une veritable 

 perte pour notre naissante industrie chevaline et pour 



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