YorkshU^e Celebrities 3 



should retire to the stud after the season in which the 

 Doncaster Cup was run, and dire was the consternation at 

 his defeat, with the loss of prestige that would ensue star- 

 ing the newly-formed Eawcliffe Stud Company in the face. 

 Mr. Henry Thompson, therefore, successfully used his 

 powers of persuasion to induce the Earl of Eglinton to 

 retain the horse in training, for a match with his con- 

 queror. The confidence of all connected with " The Flying 

 Dutchman," that he could beat " Voltigeur," when thoroughly 

 wound up, proved to be fully justified. 



He did not prove a success in England at the stud ; and 

 his stock mostly inherited a very long back, which much 

 militated against their chances. On the other hand, they 

 were excellent hacks, and first-rate jumpers. They were 

 generally well-balanced, with plenty of length, good bone, 

 long arms, beautiful shoulders, and very resolute ; so that 

 at one time they were almost invincible in steeplechases 

 (not exceeding three miles), over the old-fashioned, rough, 

 country courses then in vogue. 



" Le Batave," " Benazet," " The Brick," " Woodbury 

 Hill," " Top Sawyer," and many others, by their repeated 

 victories, stamped him as one of the best steeplechase sires 

 of the day. 



Though he would have been invaluable in Ireland, 

 breeders of blood-stock in England care nothing for steeple- 

 chase horses, and as his flat-race progeny were not up to 

 the mark, he was soon dubbed a failure. He was sold to 

 France, where he eventually became the progenitor of a 

 higher class of horse than he had given us here. " Dollar," 

 " Sornette," " Dutch Skater," " Jarnac," " Massanissa," and 

 others, were good racehorses, and showed that if our 

 breeders had had more patience, they would have even- 



