THE WATERLOO CUP 13 



portion of this volume, when discussing breeding theories, we 

 shall enter into an analysis of Master McGrath's pedigree, 

 which cannot fail to be of interest to students of the subject. 

 For the present we must return to his career as affecting the 

 history of the Waterloo Cup. 



1868. In this year Brigade was favourite, and though the 

 Irishmen were very sweet on their puppy, and entrusted him 

 with solid support, the fact remained that the coveted trophy 

 had never crossed the Channel, and the English division were 

 in happy ignorance of the sort of goods that was to be slipped. 

 Prior to leaving his native soil, Master McGrath had won the 

 Visitors' Cup at Lurgan, and those who witnessed his victory 

 did not forget him when he went to the slips. His first opponent 

 was Belle of Scotland, and he began moderately by running 

 an undecided, but at the next time of asking he polished her 

 off in decisive style, and made quite an example of Kalista, 

 Marionette, the favourite, Brigade, and the previous year's 

 winner, Lobelia. For the final he met Mr. Lister's Cock 

 Robin. In the previous round this dog had tumbled on his 

 sister Charming May, who was drawn in his favour, though she 

 ran the bye with him, and, strange to say, easily beat him, so 

 that when he made a very respectable show against the Irish 

 crack, Mr. Lister must have been sorry that he did not leave 

 the bitch in. This year was also remarkable for the debut in 

 the stake of Bab at the Bowster, whom contemporary critics 

 considered second only to McGrath. She came from Scotland 

 with a great reputation untarnished by defeat, and won two 

 courses in brilliant fashion ; but then she met Lobelia and 

 went down after an undecided. 



The following year (1869) was full of interest, for both the 

 Irish dog and the Scotch bitch had added to their laurels since 

 the last meeting. The bitch's record was indeed brilliant, for 

 she won the Scarisbrick Cup (128), the Douglas Cup (64), the 

 coveted Altcar Cup (20), and the Elsham Cup (32). In the 

 Douglas Cup she had had her revenge on Lobelia, for on a 

 strong outside she led her former conqueror three lengths and 



