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ONE OF ENGLANDS MOST NOTED HORSES. Grand Weight-Carrying Exploits of Bendigo in ln Important Handicaps. On* of the most popular animal- to carry silk during the past thirty years or so was ;l dark brows coll foal.-.i at The Curragh in 1880. 1 his cop iv;is i,y B.n Battle out of Hasty Girl, sad Was given the name of Bendigo. The youngster was about t be «ri ready tor his twe-year-oki liabilities when his owner di.-d. :tiid the engagements became void. As a result Bendigo did not run in his ju _ venile days. , ■ As I matter nf fad his debut was deferred until the autumn of his third year. when, carrying the calora of Mr. II. T. Barclay, into whose possession be ha. I passed, he took part in the Cesarewitch. In this race lie had but 81 pounds to carry, though his rider. Gallon, put up two pounds overweight. Bendiiro was not fancied on this occasion, however, being ou offer at 40 to I against, and the race Was won by Den Juiin. whose success confidently anticipated by his connections hit the ring pretty badly. A fortnight later Bendigo. ridden by Luke, and carrying m pounds, won the Cambridgeshire by a neck from Touaus, with several useful horses in 1 1 1 • 1 : ■ | 1 1 1 8 1 1 . in ln the rear. Having regard to the fact that tin* colt had run well up to the Bushes in his previous race, it was somewhat remarkable that he was permitted i to start at 50 to 1 for the Houghton handicap. His Cambridgeshire victory naturally sent him up in the scale, and iu his only other race in that season, the Liverpool Cap, he was set to carry 12:. ] pounds, and failed to obtain a place. Up to that period Bendigo had been in the care of French at Ihaannene Lodge, but before another season bad come round he was transferred to Joulifles stable at Lambourn. His new trainer experienced some trouble with the son of Ben Battle, which was only able to compete in three races as a four-year-old. He made no show iu the Stewards Cup. but put up a capital performance iu his second Cambridgeshire a few months later. He. however, met one too good for him in Flor.-u.se. which completed a memorable "double" for Mr. "Jack" Hammonds, whose St. Oatien had credited him with the Cesarewitch a fortnight previously. Bendigos last appearance of the year was iu the Chetwynd Plate, lor which he started favorite, but was unplaced to Energy. As a five-year old Bendigo also competed in three events. The lirst of these was the Lincolnshire Handicap iu the opening week of the season. He was handicapped to carry 117 pounds, which, in view of his Cambridgeshire form, was not an undue burden. Starting favorite at 11 to 4 against. Bendigo wou by three parts of a lengths from the useful Bird of Freedem in receipt of thirty-two pounds. McMahor, being third. His next essay was in the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot, which he won in a canter from Willie Darling, with Crafton third. Following this, he made his third attack on the Cambridgeshire. By this time he was well looked after by the adjuster of weights, and in the event under consideration had 134 pounds in the saddle. He again had to put up with second place, the winner being that splendid French tbree-year-old Plaisanterie. whose 124 pounds included a four- teen pound penalty as the result of a Cesarewitch triumph at the previous meeting. Others of the field were St. Galion — favorite despite his 130 pounds — Thebats, Despair, Prism and Isobar. In 1888 Henrligo paid but one visit to a race course, this being for the purpose of taking part in the first contest for the Bclinae Stakes. Among his opponents for tiiis was St. iatien. Candlemas. and Bay Hermit, but the six-year-old — ridden by Tom Cannon — easily placed the rich stake to the credit of bis fortunate owner. Candlemas finishing second three lengths off. with the "Saint" third. The following year Bendigo ran on a half dozen occasions, winning twice. His first appearance wts in the Jubilee Stakes, which had just been instituted. Bendigo was set to carry 133 pounds iu this, and among those also taking part were such well-known animals as St. Mirin. Fulmcn. Isobar. Annamife. Gallinule. Veracity and Claymore. Notwithstanding the strength of the opposition, the public had sur-ficient confidence in the popular old horse to establish him favorite and that their confidence was not misplaced was demonstrated when Bendigo reached the winning post three parts of a leugth ahead of the three-year-old Hartley, with Tyrone beaten a head for second place. He was then reserved for Ascot, being one of the five competitors for the Juhil. e Cop, a trophy aires in honor of Queen Victorias fiftieth year on the throne. Odds were laid on Bendigo. hut the spoils went to Minting, which beat St. Mirin by a length, with the favorite and Aintree running a dead heat for third place. Later in the week he was saddled for the Hardwicke Stakes, for which Ormonde. Minting and Phil were the remaining runners. This celebrated race. which has been the subject of frequent reference since, was generally regarded as in the nature of a match between the Duke of Westminsters champion and Minting, which had not met since their three-year old days. Slight odds were laid on Ormonde. Minting being quoted at 7 to 4 and Bendigo at 100 to 8. Bendigo was well beaten on this occasion, finishing thre. length behind Minting, which in turn met his match in Ormonde, though it was only by a neck that the latter obtained the rictory after a terrific race. Following this Bendigo returned to the handicapping line of business, being one of the starters for be Cesarewitch. in which his burden was 130 pounds. This proved more than he could successfully carrv. though he accounted for all save Humewood. which put up five pounds extra for the services of Robinson, the present-day trainer. Lord Rodneys three rear-old winning by a length and a half, with Carlton, which was also carrying a big weight, a bad third. Among those in the rear were the disappointing Baron. Gay Hermit. Eurasian, Exmoor, The Cob. Stone Clink ami Althorp. Later in the week Bendiga easily wou the Champion Stakes from St Mirin. Hh tin:i 1 race was the Cambridgeshire, in which he was set to carry 198 pounds. For the third time in his career he filled second place in the chief handicap of the Houghton meeting. Mr. Barclays wonderful horse tailing by a belt" length to concede thirty-five pounds to Gloriation. a three-year-old owned by Mr. R. C. Vyner. Among those unplaced were Carlton. Huinowo 1. St. Mirin and Reve dOr. Subsequent] to his racing days Bendigo bad a long career at the stud. He died in 1804. at the acre of twenty four and wis buried at Gaddesby. — "J. I,". P." in London Sporting Life.
