^ THE FRENCH YEAR; 1S65. 145 



which ho started, was hirgely backed by the public. 

 Three of the Liri;er bookmakers, it was said at the 

 time, would have, at least, to pay between them 

 £100,000. The placed horses were each well backed 

 for a * shop,' which they obtained, Mr. Robinson, in 

 particular, pocketing £3,000 or £-i,000 in virtue of Lis 

 horse — Eltham gaining third position in the race. 

 Some of the more astute Frenchmen backed Gontran 

 to win the French Derby, and Gladiateur to win the 

 Derby of Epsom, and had the good fortune to pocket 

 considerable sums in consequence. Not a few curious 

 stories have been told of the betting incidents of the 

 race won by the French horse. One is told of an 

 irate old Colonel who drcAV Gladiateur in his club 

 sweepstakes ; but as he could not believe in the pos- 

 sibility of a French horse winning our greatest English 

 race, he prevailed on a member of the club to exchange 

 tickets with him. Curiously enough, the member in 

 question had himself drawn Breadalbane, but had 

 been persuaded by a fellow-member, who had a strong 

 fancy for that particular horse, to take Christmas 

 Carol in lieu of it ; that ticket for Christmas Carol he 

 now passed to the prejudiced old officer, in exchange 

 for Gladiateur, thereby winning the first prize of £100, 

 the Colonel having, of course, to put up with the 

 second prize of £40, as the reward of his unbelief and 

 prejudice. 



Many friends of Count Lagrange showed their faith 

 in the French horse by backing it to win them pretty 

 big sums of money, which, as he failed to win both the 

 Prendergast and Criterion Stakes, they were enabled to 

 do at somewhat long prices, those of them who were 



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