FRANC PICARD AND HIS TIMES 93 



and was not placed for the Liverpool Grand National ; 

 but he was second, with 5 lbs. the worse in weight, to 

 Red Rover for the Windsor Grand Handicap. On re- 

 turning to France he was beaten a second time by 

 Surprise, the mare having on this occasion only 9 lbs. 

 advantage in weight. He was second to his stable 

 com]3anion The Colonel (by Pantaloon) at La Marche, 

 and second to Trerableur (a thoroughbred ' Frenchman,' 

 by Young Emilius and Miss Tandem) at Saumur. All 

 this looked as if the end were at hand ; and it was — but 

 a glorious end. August came, and at Le Pin he won 

 the steeple-chase, showing his heels to Pacha, Governor, 

 &c., and making 11,500 francs, or 460/., by the per- 

 formance ; and at Dieppe, where he was so much ' at 

 home ' and so greatly beloved and respected, he gave 

 away weight to eleven opponents, ran one of his finest 

 races, and came in an easy first, though he broke down 

 some 500 metres (about two furlongs and a half) from 

 the post, having Waterloo, The Premier, and other 

 English horses behind him. ' The old conqueror,' says 

 the report in 'Le Sport,' ' ended his career with a glorious 

 victory on the ground on which he had always shone. 

 He broke down so badly that the long list of his 

 triumphs is closed at last. The incident afiected the 

 spectators deeply, and damped the enthusiasm which 

 caused Lamplugh to be received year by year, on re- 

 turning to weigh in, with an ovation. A noble career 

 could not have been more worthily terminated ; Franc 

 Picard maintained to the last his title of Steeple-chase 

 Champion of France.' He broke down, like Monarque ; 

 but, more happy than Monarque, he disappeared in a 

 blaze of triumph, and yet, less happy than Monarque, 

 he could not perpetuate his name by a line of illustrious 

 descendants. 



