The Modern British Thoroughbred 43 



1848. The following year saw the Flying Dutchman, who was by Bay Middleton out 

 of Van Tromp's dam, carry off the Derby and St. Leger; and had he been nominated 

 in the Two Thousand (won by Nunnykirk, a brother to Newminster) he must have 

 won that, too, for he was clearly the best horse of that year by ten pounds. The fol- 

 lowing year saw the renaissance of Blacklock's line for all time. 



VOLTIGEUR, a small brown horse, but powerfully built, was by Voltaire (second 

 in St. Leger of 1829 and sire, of Charles XII., who won that event in 1839) out of 

 Martha Lynn by Mulatto, from Leda (sister to Arachne) by Filho la Puta. Voltigeur 

 was own brother to Barnton, a moderate performer best known as the sire of that 

 great cup horse, Fandango, who is the only horse in history to win the Stockbridge, 

 Ascot and Doncaster Cups in one season. Voltigeur was owned by Lord Zetland and 

 could not be gotten ready for the Two Thousand so his owner paid forfeit to the 

 winner, Pitsford, by Epirus, afterwards sent out to Australia. Epsom came on with 

 her glorious vista of buttercups and daisies ; and the little brown son of Martha Lynn 

 won the Derby, with Pitsford second and Clincher third, in a field of twenty-four. It 

 was a heavy betting race for Bolingbroke and Pitsford had alternated as favorites 

 during the past winter, while Voltigeur could easily have been had at 100 to 8 within 

 five days of the race. At Goodwood and Ascot, "Volty" did not start in any actual 

 race but walked over for the St. James Palace Stakes. Doncaster came on in Sem- 

 tember and Ireland sent over to the St. Leger the best colt she had raised since the 

 days of Faugh-a-Ballagh. His name was Russborough and he was from the same 

 line of mares that produced Tramp. When Voltigeur came on the track the whole 

 Town Moor broke out into a frenzy of applause for he was the first Yorkshire-bred 

 horse to win the Derby in several years, besides which the popularity of the Earl 

 of Zetland was almost unbounded among the tykes. Voltigeur was ridden by El- 

 nathan Flatman, who also had ridden him in the Derby and Orlando before him.. 

 "Nat" rode a waiting race and, on passing the Red House, found Russborough and 

 Bolingbroke in front of him, so he put on all steam and passed Boling- 

 broke, but could not pass the Irish colt, who hung on like a mother-in-law. 

 The judge hung out two cyphers for a dead heat, but Russborough was too badly 

 distressed for another effort, so "Volti" walked over for the stake. 



Two days later came the deluge. The Doncaster Cup had 27 nominations, but 

 only two came to the post, "Volti," with 105 pounds and Flying Dutchman, with 124, 

 who had won the Emperor of Russia's Plate at Ascot (then substituted for the Ascot 

 Cup, with the same weights and distance) in such hollow style that the bookmakers 

 laid 2 to i that he would win. Charles Marlow, who had ridden him in all of his 

 races, was on the Dutchman's back and was ordered by Fobert, the trainer, to trail 

 Voltigeur to the Red House and then come on. There were a lot of tally-ho coaches 

 and drags in the reserve about 200 yards above the finishing post. The Earl of 

 Eglington was in the betting ring, but as the pair went up the back stretch, his wife 

 called to Lady Zetland and asked her if she could see the horses? 



"Yes, and the Dutchman is two lengths to the good," replied Lady Zetland. 



'Then Voltigeur will beat him," replied Lady Eglinton, "for Dutchy can never 

 make his own running and I know that Fobert has instructed Marlowe to ride a 

 waiting race with him." 



Her ladyship had prognosticated truly, for Voltigeur won by two lengths and 

 the great Flying Dutchman was terribly distressed. Out of this grew the most 

 famous match of the past seventy years, two miles at weight for age, only to be run 

 at York, instead of Doncaster. The stake was 2,500 a side. That day saw Marlowe 

 duly sober and on his best behavior. He held the "Deutcher" back for a mile and a 

 half and then let him come with his typhoon rush that no other horse of that day 

 could equal. He won by three lengths, and the -half of Yorkshire went "stone broke," 

 But really, there was never a day nor an hour that Voltigeur had any license to beat 



