270 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



Ormonde, and let the public see what he really 

 could do. His Grace readily consented. Cannon 

 obeyed his instructions to the letter, and the 

 public not only saw, but marvelled. So did 

 Captain Machell. When I met him in the 

 paddock after the race I said, " Well, what 

 do you think of it now ? " He replied, " Or- 

 monde is not a horse at all ; he's a damned steam- 

 engine.*' 



The following day Ormonde took part in one 

 of the most exciting and memorable races ever 

 run. It was for the Hardwicke Stakes. The 

 result was: 



Duke of Westminster's Ormonde, 4 yrs., 



9 St. 10 lb T. Cannon i 



Mr. R. C. Vyner's Minting, 4 yrs., 9 st. 10 lb. J. Osborne 2 



Mr. H. T. Barclay's Bendigo, aged, 9 st. 12 lb. . Watts 3 



Mr. H. T. Fenwick's Phil, 3 yrs., 7 st. 12 lb. . G. Barrett 4 



Betting : 5 to 4 on Ormonde, 7 to 4 against Minting, 100 to 

 8 Bendigo, 100 to 7 Phil. Won by a neck ; three lengths 

 between second and third. 



When the four horses were making their way 

 to the starting-post. Matt Dawson said to me, 

 ** You will be beaten to-day, John. No horse 

 afflicted with Ormonde's infirmity can hope to 

 beat Minting." I am bound to confess I had 

 no great confidence in Ormonde, for I did not 

 know how his wind trouble would affect him 

 when running over a mile and a half, with a long 

 pull uphill in the last mile. However, greatly 



