396 



his stallions, yearlings, brood mares and foals. The racehorses were 

 sold by auction at Newmarket, on April 28, 1884, and the others at 

 the same place on June 30 following. 



All things considered, never has there been such an important sale 

 of the sort in England. From all parts of the world men came to buy, 

 and the price? averaged beat all previous record, while the magnificent 

 •condition in which Mat Dawson brought out the horses under his 

 care was referred to in all the papers. 



I allude to this sale because of its connection with my subject, 

 but must confine myself to giving the totals, although the full par- 

 ticulars are beside me. 



Mr. Geo. Alex. Baird (Mr. Abington) was the largest purchaser at 

 for five lots 16,550gs., including Busybody at 8,800gs. Then followed 

 Capt. Machellfor four lots 12,150gs., and so on. Sir John Willoughby 

 bought Harvester at 8,600gs. on the advice of Mat Dawson, and, in a 

 month after, his purchase and 8t. Gatien ran a dead heat for, and 

 divided, the Derby. Busybody also repaid Mr. Abington by winning 

 the Oaks and One Thousand Guineas the same year. 



Hankering after the old game, Lord Falmouth returned to the turf 

 in 1885, but his stud was nothing like the one he sold. However, with 

 Eada his old trainer won for him the Goodwood Cup. 



After Lord Falmouth's death in 1889, Dawson ceased to train 

 on the extensive scale he did previously, his nephews, John and 

 George, relieving him to a great extent. Nevertheless his skill remained 

 intact, and success continued, for, with St. Simon for the Duke of Port- 

 land, Mimi for Mr. Noel Fenwick, Lambkin and Minting for Mr. Vyner, 

 and Melton for Lord Hastings, he in a few years ran up a score 

 greater than many a man did in a lifetime. 



Good races, and often between bad horses, are constantly seen, but 

 what are called "the greatest races of the century" are very few indeed. 

 To qualify for the honour the race must be in all respects sensational. 

 The event must be of the highest importance, the horses must pre- 

 viously have proved themselves the best of their year, while the contest 

 must be fought out from post to post and result in a desperate finish 

 in which must be displayed, by first-class jockeys, horsemanship in the 

 superlative degree of excellence. Exhibitions so unique can be counted 

 upon a man's fingers, yet Mat Dawson as trainer has taken part in at 

 least three of these extraordinary manifestations, a record which no 

 other man could ever lay claim to. 



