282 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



man few of his experience rank higher. In the field — 

 as a steeplechase rider — a rider over the course — a 

 yachter — in all manly exercises he has distinguished 

 himself." In the coach-box he was quite at home, 

 could handle the ribbons in the best style, and his 

 team could scarcely be surpassed. 



The first time his lordship donned the silk was in 

 1834, when he rode Lancet for the Aylesbury Steeple- 

 chase ; but his debut was unsuccessful, as Lancet fell, 

 and the celebrated Vivian won. After the race he 

 matched his horse, Cock Robin, against the winner for 

 ;^i,ooo aside, and a fortnight afterwards the match 

 came off, four miles over the stiffest part of the Market 

 Harborough country. Thousands came to see it, and 

 Vivian got home in front of his opponent, owing to 

 superior jockeyship, after a very close and severely 

 contested race. In 1836, his lordship again wore the 

 *' blue jacket and black cap," his well-known colours, 

 and rode Yellow Dwarf for the Welter Stakes at Ayles- 

 bury, and was third to Saladin and Vivian. At War- 

 wick he was equally unfortunate on the same horse. 

 Yellow Dwarf was a hard-mouthed brute, but a fine 

 fencer. His lordship heard that he was the best 

 jumper in England, and sent word to his owner that 

 he was anxious to buy him, and told him to send 

 the horse to meet him at a certain covert in Leicester- 

 shire. The horse arrived while the field were standing 

 in a lane beside a gorse which the hounds were draw- 

 ing ; there was a five-barred gate at the end of the 

 lane. "Jump the horse over that gate," said Lord 

 Waterford to the rider of Yellow Dwarf. " Oh, no, 

 my lord, I will not." "Well, get down," said his 

 lordship ; "you're afraid ; Til ride him over it myself" 



