Part 52

That classic races would quickly follow the Blankney champion’s other stud successes was certain enough, and his batch of 1878, when he was just fifteen, brought him into this distinguished order, as the Duchess of Montrose’s Devotion, a daughter of Stockwell’s, seemed to hit exactly with Hermit. Her third produce was by him, foaled in 1878, and as Thebais was destined to win the One Thousand and Oaks of 1881, being unquestionably the best filly of her year. There was then quite a spell of great doings to the credit of the Hermit family, as in 1879 were foaled his daughters Shotover and St. Marguerite, who between them took the Two Thousand, One Thousand and the Derby. A singularly fine mare was Shotover, bred by Mr. Chaplin, and the style in which she won the Derby under Tom Cannon made her a worthy successor in honours to Eleanor and Blink Bonny. St. Marguerite, who beat Shotover in the One Thousand, was still more beautiful. In the Plantation at Newmarket, when saddling for her first race, someone said, “What a beautiful filly!” and Mr. Chaplin replied, “That does not describe her. Has anyone ever seen anything more perfect?”

To follow up the series of great successes, there was dropped, in 1880, a colt afterwards known as St. Blaise, and he was the winner of the Derby in 1883. Another Oaks winner was seen two years afterwards in Lonely, and soon afterwards granddaughters of Hermit swelled the classic rank, as, in 1888, Seabreeze, daughter of St. Marguerite, won the Oaks and St. Leger, and the following season L’Abbesse de Jouarre, a daughter of Trappist, was the heroine of the ladies’ race. Other great winners by Hermit, and their descendants again, have been almost legion. There was Timothy, winner of the Ascot Cup and Alexandra Plate in 1888; Gay Hermit the Royal Hunt Cup in 1887; and Peter ditto seven years before; St. Helena, second in the Oaks to Lonely, and winner of the Coronation Stakes at Ascot; Philosophy, winner of the Great Whitsuntide Plate at Manchester, and many other valuable races; Friar’s Balsam, probably the best of his day; with Marden, Nautilus, Gordon, Raffaello, Ste-Alvere, Grey Friars, Tristan, Queen Adelaide, Melanion, Whisperer, and really a host of others too numerous to mention.

It is in subsequent generations, though, that the greatness of Hermit has been so solid and remarkable. There is all the Devotion family, the Sailor Prince family, through the mare Hermita by Hermit. This is largely distributed through America, and there has been a return of it into this country—the Amphion family, through Suicide by Hermit; the Gallinules, including Pretty Polly, through Moorhen by Hermit; the Marco line through Novitiate, the Orion branch through Shotover, the Solimans through Albeche, the Father Confessors through the Abbot, the coming produce of Black Sand, the Cesarewitch winner of 1902, and a very likely sire, by Melanion, son of Hermit; the very numerous descents through the daughters of Peter; and then there has been Mark, Torpedo, Retreat, Whitehall, Zealot, Swillington, Southampton and Exile II. In sons there is now, naturally, a dearth, as the old horse has been dead seventeen years, and I have regretted that one of his youngest, Baron Rothschild’s Heaume, died much too early, as he was a beautiful horse, a shade bigger than his sire, but made like him, and in his action the same. It was a pity also that Melanion left these shores when quite in his prime, but still there was much usefulness in many that escaped the foreign buyer. His son Exile II., for instance, got a better horse than himself in Aborigine, the winner of the Ascot Stakes and the Alexandra Plate at the same meeting. The Turf has shown, in fact, that the next generation in male tail has possessed, if anything, more stamina than the immediate sons of Hermit, as, besides Aborigine being stouter than his sire Exile II., there has been Black Sand stouter than Melanion, and Whitefeather a better stayer than Retreat; whilst in the case of Piety, who was out of a Hermit mare, there was possibly nearly the greatest glutton over a distance of all times.

So much, though, for the Turf proper, but there is another arena in which Hermit’s name will be honoured for ever. Many by the Blankney chesnut were very good jumpers and cross-country performers of considerable ability, but with his fee at 250 guineas for many years his offspring were rather too expensive for the jumping game generally. However, such names as Bridget, second in the great hurdle race at Kempton, Anchorite, Stylites, Spinster and Xavier recur to one’s memory, and Mr. J. C. Hill and Mr. Brockton will still declare that there was no safer conveyance over a country than Moorhen. It was through his sons in the next generation, though, that this particular excellence came out, as the best part of Retreat’s stock were his jumpers, if one excepts Alice, a great mare over a distance of ground, and perhaps Whitefeather. There was no greater honour taker though than Father O’Flynn, the gallant winner of the Grand National in 1892, under the popular Captain “Roddy” Owen. At that time also there were four or five first-class steeplechasers by Retreat. One of Hermit’s first sons must have been Ascetic, as he was foaled in 1871, and was out of Lady Alicia, a Melbourne mare, at the time nineteen years old. She had produced a few to run, such as Rapparee, winner of an Ascot Stakes, Ratcatcher, Ribbon, and Ratcatcher’s Daughter. She could run a bit herself, too, among other performances winning the Champagne Stakes at Stockbridge (Bibury Club) as a two-year-old, it being a notable race, as she won by a short head from Saucebox, the winner of the St. Leger in the following year, and Lambs wool, who ran a dead-heat with Saucebox, whilst the fourth, Redemption, was not beaten more than a neck. Lady Alicia also won a race at Egham as a three-year-old. She was a very fine bred mare by Melbourne out of Testy by Venison, her dam Temper by defence, and dropped at the Causton Paddocks; she first of all belonged to Lord John Scott. When turned out of training Mr. W. H. Brook had her for four or five years, and sold her to the Rev. Mr. King (or Mr. Launde, to speak of him in his racing name). This accounts for her being allied to Hermit in her old age, as Mr. King’s well-known establishment was not far from Blankney. The owner of Apology had, therefore, the honour of breeding Ascetic, but he does not appear to have kept him very long, as he was brought out as a two-year-old at Newmarket by a Mr. T. Smith, running but moderately in the Exning Plate at the second spring meeting. This was his only performance in public as a two-year-old, and he was brought out three times the year following, but without gaining any success. He was regarded, however, with a certain amount of respect, as his weight in the Lincolnshire Handicap was 6 st. 12 lb., the winner, The Gunner, also four years old, carrying 6 st. Then he ran in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood at 7 st. 4 lb., and also in the Chesterfield Cup at 7 st. 1 lb. He was second in the Champagne Stakes at Brighton, six furlongs, beaten by the Master Fenton filly; with eight others behind him. He ran third also in the Newal Stakes at Lewes, but in all, his performances were nothing remarkable, excepting to show that he was the sort of racehorse that so frequently develops into the high-class sire to get the best of steeplechasers and hunters. Victor’s best distance was thought to be a mile, and under a very light weight, 5 st. 13 lb., as a four-year-old, he spread-eagled a large field for the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. Ascetic was thought best of for the six furlongs in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood and about his best race was over the easy six furlongs at Brighton. The sharp quick horse to be into his bridle in a moment, as the saying goes, seems to be the most likely horse to get jumpers.

In due course the clever Irish breeders secured Ascetic, and for a great number of years his home was at Mr. John M. Purdon’s, Cloneymore, Athboy, co. Meath. From this quarter he proved himself to be a second Victor, or even more, as the latter never got a Grand National winner, and four of these events have been credited to sons of Ascetic. Those who have looked over Cloister will have retained the impression, as I have done, that he was one of the grandest hunters ever seen. I saw him take one of his victories at Aintree, but it was not the most important, as he won, or was placed eight times over the course, and it was in the autumn, when he won the Sefton, that I saw him. Standing over 16 hands, with tremendous power everywhere, wonderful in front of the saddle, with quite Leicestershire shoulders, and immense depth through the girth. Had he a lean loin, or was it that his back ribs and big quarters made it look light? I thought him one of the best-looking horses I had ever seen, and what a performer! His second victory in the Grand National was certainly the greatest performance ever heard of, as, against a good field he galloped everything down when carrying 12 st. 7 lb., giving the second horse, who finished forty lengths off, 31 lbs. To have got a dual winner of the Grand National is a great boast, but Ascetic has done a deal more. In 1903 there was another Grand National hero to take the posthumous honour for Ascetic, and a very great horse, no doubt, is Mr. John Morrison’s Drumcree; there being this to note also in his victory, that he beat, amongst others, a grandson of Ascetic’s in Drumcree by Royal Meath, one of the most beautiful of Ascetic’s sons, and a brilliant performer over a country. This year comes more honour to the memory of Ascetic (the old horse died in August, 1897), as Ascetic’s Silver won his Grand National in quite the Cloister style, and the third Aunt May was a daughter. Then there has been Roman Oak who did about everything but win a Grand National, Royal Meath, West Meath, Breemont Oak, Æsthetic, Hermit, Midnight, Noiseless, Leinster, Fairland, winner of the Great Lancashire Steeplechase, Hidden Mystery, Aunt May, Nickel Jack, and a host of others to make up over a hundred steeplechase winners, so it is said.

There are other Hermit sires that have had this extraordinary gift of getting jumpers, though perhaps in less degrees. Cassock got some very good ones, and so has St. Honorat, Nautilus, Bookworm, Bold Marshall, Edward the Confessor, The Abbot, Hawkstone, and Peter, but Ascetic and Retreat brought in the Grand National records. It must not be forgotten, also, that the hunters by the sons of Hermit have been quite unique. If any one enquires about Birdsall or Malton, as to how the best hunters have been bred of late in Yorkshire, they will hear nothing but praise of the Gordons, and the Whisperers, Marks and Homilies have all done their meed of good in hunting quarters. It would seem that Hermit’s mission in life was to create an extraordinary family to be the very mainstay of sport in every branch that has anything at all to do with horses. It is estimated that three millions have been won by Hermit and his descendants, and yet it is barely forty years since the scene at Epsom was enacted. One recalls the suspense and excitement of the crowd, the yellow in apparent command; then like a flash there is a pink streak, as it were, closing, and the little interval, scarcely perceptible to any but the judge, has made all the difference. Other Derbies have followed in its wake—Ascot Cups, Goodwood Cups, many Oaks, St. Legers, Alexandra Plates and Grand Nationals, have shaken the very sporting world in widespread interest, and the thread of it all is from Hermit.

G. S. LOWE.

Sport at the Universities.

So far Cambridge leads in the great fight for all-round sporting supremacy this year. Twelve Inter-’Varsity competitions have been already decided, Cambridge boasting seven victories, and Oxford five. Ten contests were brought off during Lent Term, just past, and during that period honours were “easy.” Both Universities won five events. The Light Blues started well by winning the Association football and hockey matches during February. Oxford, however, were unfortunate in losing several of their best men either at the eleventh hour or during the actual fray. But for bad mishaps to O. T. Norris (the Oxford captain) and other Dark Blues, Cambridge would hardly have won the “Soccer” match by 3 goals to 1. They would probably have won the hockey match in any case, yet the enforced absence of Messrs. Round and Butterworth made all the difference to Oxford’s play. At boxing and fencing and billiards Oxford asserted superiority early in March. In the first-named competition their victory was most pronounced (7 events to 1), and some really fine science was shown both with the gloves and the foils. Although played at Cambridge, the Dark Blues repeated their 1905 billiards triumph by 2 games to 1, but shortly afterwards Cambridge beat their rivals somewhat easily at lacrosse by 10 goals to 3.

The Inter-’Varsity “Grind” was again won by Oxford (56 points to 45), Mr. H. W. Aston’s Aughamore (owner up) beating Mr. Fred Cripp’s Ballycraigy by a neck for first place. Mr. Atkinson’s Dandy Dan (the Hon. B. B. Ponsonby up) finished third for Cambridge. A course between Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard was utilised this year, and a very large and fashionable crowd was _en evidence_. Lord Orkney was judge, and Mr. Leopold de Rothschild and Mr. W. Selby Lowndes, M.F.H. Stewards. Oxford also retained the Chambers Shield by winning the Inter-’Varsity sports by the big margin of 7 events to 3. The Cantabs only accounted for the 100 yards, one mile, and weight items. The salient features of the meeting were the running of President Cornwallis (Oxford), who won the “Quarter” in 51 secs., and the “Half” in 1 min. 56⅖ secs., and the mile running of Mr. A. R. Welsh (Cambridge), who completed the distance in 4 min. 21⅕ secs. On the sodden track and under most wretched conditions all these performances were remarkable. Other notable feats were the hammer-throwing of Mr. A. H. Fyffe (Oxford), who created a fresh Inter-’Varsity record by hurling 136 ft. 3 ins., the jumping of Mr. P. M. Young (Oxford), who won the long jump at 22 ft. 3 ins., and the high jump at 5 ft. 7¼ ins., the weight-putting of President G. W. Lyttelton (Cambridge), 38 ft. 3¾ ins., and the hurdling of Mr. E. R. J. Hussey (Oxford), who beat Mr. F. H. Teall (Cambridge), the 1904–05 winner, in the fine time of 16½ secs.

Cambridge again won the golf competition at Hoylake by the excellent margin of 30 holes to 7. The play on the whole was somewhat disappointing, nor did Mr. A. G. Barry (amateur champion) do all that was expected for the Light Blues. “As a team,” however, the Cantabs were overwhelmingly superior, the best form for Oxford being shown by the captain (Mr. Grundy) and Mr. H. J. Ross. The annual chess match produced some sound all-round play, and, in the result, Oxford repeated their last year’s victory by exactly the same margin (4½ games to 2½). Shortly before this, the combined Oxford and Cambridge teams had drawn with the American Universities in their periodical contests for the Rice trophy. The play was per cable telegraph, and, in the main, was worthy the occasion. The trophy still remains on this side of the Atlantic. So far Oxford had drawn nearly level with Cambridge, and the Boat Race excited exceptional interest. How Cambridge won a very one-sided race, leading from start to finish, in the fine time of 19 min. 26 secs., is now a matter of history. They finished comparatively fresh, while four, at least, of the Oxonians were much distressed.

I quite agree with a distinguished Old Blue that the history of the 1906 practice, culminating in the race of April 7th, will ever stand as the most paradoxical on record. Before the crews left home waters Oxford were vastly superior “as a crew.” They could have given the Cantabs a dozen lengths over the championship course. Upon the crews’ arrival at Henley and Bourne End respectively, Cambridge improved out of all knowledge. In a flash, as it were, they became a crew, and subsequently beat all records over the Cookham course and every part of it. Nor were the Oxonians idle. They, too, advanced in appreciable fashion, greatly pleasing such sound judges as Sir John Edwards-Moss, Messrs. Fletcher, Harcourt Gold, Dr. Bourne, &c. Then followed the crews’ advent at Putney. Cambridge went on improving, and were visibly fit enough to row the race a week before the eventful day. Oxford were clearly in the rough, yet showed the longest and steadiest swing of any Oxford eight since 1897. Most experts expected a repetition of last year’s procedure, when the Dark Blues trained on and were fit to row for their lives on the morning of battle. But something was lacking during the last week. And that something never came. The spectacle was afforded on April 7th of this fine crew being outpaced and out-rowed from pillar to post. To most it was a perfect enigma. Some blame the boat, others their lack of fitness, and others again their over-doing matters. In any case the fact remains that one of the most powerful crews of modern years were pulverised by a Cambridge eight, whose great merit was uniformity and speed. Theirs was a sculling style pure and simple, while that of Oxford at their best was that of a first-rate oarsmanship. Does this mean a new theory in the matter of future make-up, training, and coaching?

Several other Inter-’Varsity contests have to be decided during the Summer Term, now in full swing. These include the polo match (June 25th) and the cricket match (July 5th, 6th, and 7th). Cricket prospects are rosy enough both ways. Mr. W. S. Bird (Malvern and New College) is the new Oxford captain, and Mr. E. L. Wright (Winchester and New College) hon. sec. Other old blues available are Messrs. G. N. Foster, E. G. Martin, N. R. Udal, G. T. Branston, and O. T. Norris, while many well-known senior men will be again in residence. These include Messrs. A. O. Snowden, P. T. Lewis, H. H. Worsley, H. M. Butterworth, B. Cozens-Hardy, E. Cripps, C. A. L. Payne, and the Hon. C. N. Bruce. Mr. C. H. Eyre (Harrow and Pembroke) is the Cambridge captain, and Mr. M. W. Payne (Wellington and Trinity) hon. sec. No fewer than eight old blues are available, viz.: Messrs. R. A. Young, C. C. Page, F. J. V. Hopley, K. P. Keigwin, L. G. Colbeck, G. C. Napier, P. R. May, and A. F. Morcom. With only one vacancy to fill up, competition for places will be exceptionally severe this year. The best known senior men available include Messrs. W. P. Harrison, C. Palmer, R. E. H. Baily (all county players), C. B. W. Magnay, R. S. Preeston, A. P. Scott, E. A. Smythies, G. C. Humphreys, C. S. Rattigan, and G. Belcher.

The best of the Oxford freshmen appear to be Messrs. J. H. Gordon and A. C. L. Clarke (Winchester), Lord Somers and H. E. L. Porter (Charterhouse), H. K. Gould and V. Eberle (Clifton), C. Hurst (Uppingham), G. C. Barnardo (Repton), O. H. C. Dunell (Eton), R. O. Morris (Harrow), E. B. Carpenter (Winchester), and H. A. Gilbert (Charterhouse). One or two above-average bowlers are included. Of the Cambridge “freshers,” Messrs. J. N. Buchanan (Charterhouse), K. G. Macleod (Fettes), N. S. Cornelius (Malvern), H. Hosken (Leys), and J. Reunert (Harrow), boast splendid public school credentials. For the rest, about the best appear to be Messrs. J. H. Wakefield (Repton), E. Hoffmeister (Brighton), H. W. Priestley (Uppingham), and H. P. Webb (of the same school). The trial matches commence simultaneously with this month’s issue of BAILY, and the outcome means a good deal to Oxford. On paper form at least the Light Blues have a decided pull this year. Capital fixture lists have been arranged both ways. Oxford play home matches against the Gentlemen of England, Lancashire, Yorkshire, the M.C.C., and the Free Foresters, and foreign matches against Sussex, the M.C.C., Worcestershire, and Surrey. The Cantab’s home fixtures are _v._ Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Surrey, the Gentlemen of England, Middlesex, Gloucestershire, and their foreign fixtures _v._ the Gentlemen of England, Sussex, Surrey, the M.C.C., and Liverpool and District (after the Inter-’Varsity match). Another period of all-round, fast and furious, is thus assured at the Sister Universities. Later on I shall have something to say of the results.

W. C. P. F.

Foxhunting in France.

MR. C. HENRY RIDGWAY, MASTER OF THE PAU HUNT.

One is apt to associate the noble science of foxhunting with the United Kingdom alone, and certainly to partake of this most fascinating sport in its perfection the United Kingdom must be visited. But foxhunting, good, bad, and indifferent, is to be found in many quarters of the wide world. A “Gib.” reynard is pursued amongst the rocks and cork trees; in Belgium there is more than one “_equipage au reynard_”; and in Virginia, Maryland, and other states of the Union foxhunting has flourished for centuries.

In France there are “equipages” innumerable, but the object of their pursuit is the stag, the roedeer, the wild boar, or the hare; and reynard is looked upon as vermin, except in the little far-off corner of the Republic which, till the days of Henri IV., although its sovereign bore the more ambitious (if empty) title of King of Navarre, composed the tiny kingdom of Bearn. Here, with its headquarters at the ancient capital, “La bonne ville de Pau,” foxhunting has flourished for over fifty years, and at the present time is pursued with the greatest vigour and success.

The earliest record of hunting around Pau dates from 1840, when Sir Henry Oxenden brought a pack of foxhounds, and a numerous stud, to the Chateau of Aureilham, near Tarbes, and found active employment in hunting the wild fox for four days a week. Three years after, on Sir Henry’s resignation, Messrs. Cornwall and Standish, then residents at Pau, established kennels at Bordes, not quite half way between Pau and Tarbes, and carried on the sport.

The mastership has, in the course of the long period that has elapsed since the hunt was started by Sir H. Oxenden, passed through many hands, Mr. J. Alcock, Mr. W. G. Tiffany, Mr. J. Stewart, Major Cairns, Mr. T. Burgess, the Earl of Howth, Mr. J. Gordon Bennett, Mr. Frederick Maude, Sir Victor Brook, Baron Le Jeune, Baron D’Este, being amongst those who have presided over affairs. The Mastership is now held by Mr. C. Henry Ridgway, who is in his sixth season, and the unvarying good sport he has shown has seldom been equalled and never surpassed.

Mr. Ridgway, although born in France, is of American parentage. He was educated at Oxford, and for several seasons hunted from Market Harboro. His sixty couple of hounds are all drafts from the best English packs, and his hunters all come from the shires. The whole equipment would do credit to any country, and the sport he has shown has never been equalled. An all-round sportsman, his racing colours have often been to the front on French turf, whilst he is a finished whip, a capital shot, and the captain of the golf club.

The hounds are divided into three packs—the “ladies,” the dog pack, and a mixed pack. All three packs have shown great sport; but for drive, quickness and looks the bitches are unsurpassed. Mr. Ridgway has a guaranteed subscription of 50,000 francs, and hunts always four days a week, and sometimes five days.