Some Steeplechase Horses 91 



As this seemed to be the only feasible plan, we at once set 

 about executing it ; as there were several high-priced 

 horses running, we expected to figure far behind at the 

 finish. 



Browne was to ride Captain Turner's " David," a 

 horse that had been an ordinary trooper, but was reclaimed 

 from the ranks. He was a very good horse, though a 

 difficult one to steer, owing to carrying his head on one 

 side and having no feeling on that side of his mouth. I 

 was to ride Mr. Truman's " Vauban," an excellent gallop- 

 ing hunter, but deficient in speed when competing with 

 racehorses. 



Amongst the runners were " Fervacques," winner of 

 the Northumberland Plate and Gold Vase at Ascot ; 

 " Q. C," a well-known good horse ; " Little Eogue," for 

 whom a very large sum had just been paid, on purpose to 

 win this race ; " Donate," winner of some hunters' flat 

 races ; and six others. But we need not have troubled 

 ourselves much about the match, for " David " ran second 

 and " Vauban " ran fourth, the race being won by 

 " Donato." We were much relieved at the favourable 

 termination to our anxieties. 



In 1870 I very narrowly missed becoming possessor 

 of that afterwards famous horse, " Chimney Sweep," who 

 so often ran second for the Liverpool Grand National for 

 Lord Marcus Beresford. At the Aldershot Summer Meet- 

 ing, I was riding a three-year-old filly, by " Lord Clifden," 

 in the Flying Stakes, and we fancied our chance very 

 much ; but there was one horse in the race that we could 

 find out nothing about, of the name of " Meteor." On 

 going into the dressing-room, I found Mr. Hope-Johnstone 

 putting on his racing things, and, on asking what he was 



