132 In Scarlet and Silk 



Jem Mason, the wonderful brothers M'Don- 

 ough (Alan and William), Tom Olliver, and 

 many more too numerous to mention here, 

 were amongst the "very best" of the cross- 

 country riding contingent of these early 

 days, and a whole history might be written 

 upon their splendid performances in the 

 saddle. It is not a little remarkable that 

 gallant old Alan M'Donough actually donned 

 silk at the age of sixty-four to ride his last 

 steeplechase. 



In the Liverpool of 1840 the almost in- 

 vincible Lottery came down at the wall * in 

 front of the Stand. He sinned in good com- 

 pany, for no less than five fell at the same 

 place. Charity beat him the following year, 

 and Lottery's penalties effectually stopped 

 him from ever addinsj a second " National " 

 to his score. Tom Olliver won on Gaylad in 

 1842 and on Vanguard in 1843, Lottery and 

 Jem Mason being behind him on each occasion. 

 Poor Tom Olliver was always " up to his 

 hat " in debt, and often emerged from durance 



* Done away with the following year. 



