ORME AND LA FLfiCHE 347 



to the point at which we broke off the story of 

 Orme, because the St. Leger at Doncaster was 

 the next race in which La Fl^che took part. 

 The contest was of particular interest to us, 

 as well as to the public, for it was the first in 

 which Orme and La Fleche opposed each other. 

 It will be remembered that the Duke of West- 

 minster, in the letter he wrote me twelve months 

 previously, stated that if Orme and La Fleche 

 met in the Middle Park Plate he should " back 

 the colt." He used this language in a figurative 

 sense, because he was not a betting man. Well, 

 now that the two animals had at last come 

 together, the public, adopting the Duke's view 

 of their merits, made Orme favourite. Odds of 

 II to 10 were laid on him, whereas 7 to 2 could 

 be obtained about the filly. 



So far as Orme was concerned the race was 

 a veritable tragedy. He was again ridden by 

 Barrett. There were rumours that the jockey 

 had been ** squared," and they reached the 

 ears of the Duke of Westminster, who, rather 

 foolishly, perhaps, warned Barrett that his riding 

 would be closely watched. This nettled the 

 jockey, and caused him to throw all discretion 

 to the winds. Before half a mile had been 

 covered he sent Orme to the front, and in front 

 the colt remained until a furlong and a half from 

 home. At that point the horse was beaten; he 

 had run himself to a standstill. His retirement 



