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VOLTIGEUR A TURF IDOL ♦ Son of Voltaire Lowered Colors of The Flying Dutchman. ♦ How Famous Race Hone "Was Almost Withdrawn From Derby, but Won That Rich Classic in Field of Twenty-lour. • 2 2 In his book. "Ashgill; or, The Life and Times of John Osborne," J. B. Radcliffe de- ., voted the following to the great Knglish race horse and sire Voltigeur : Voltigeur was destroyed on Saturday. -February- 21, 1874. The pride 0 Yorkshire j and one of the most popular horses on the British turf, he was accidentally kicked on the near hind thigh by a mare belonging to "Sandy" Young the previous day, but as 2 "Yolti" walked about as usual it was not -considered that the fracture was dangerous. : On the following morning, however, the , groom found on going into the horses box that he was still lying down, and it was dis- , covered that VoltiReurs leg was broken, .lohn Hedley of Richmond pronounced the case hopeless and the horse was shot in his box at Aske. his leg and tail being taken * off and cured as a memento of the famous steed. Bred in 1847 by Robert Stevenson of Ha * Voltigeur was a dark brown or nearly b.acx. sired by Voltaire, from Martha Lynn, by Mulatto. A handsome colt, he soon became the idol of Richmond and Mr. Stevenson wnt him to Doncaster in September for sale. The reserve price of ,750 not being reached, like a convicted prisoner" Voltigeur was returned to Harts. Shortly afterward the then Karl of Zetland was induced by his brother-in-law. Mr. Williamson, to buy him. In due course he came to Aske, where he became the idol of Bobby Hill, the Karl of Zetlands trainer, and one of the Karl, too. as he early developed excellences. Anyone that contested the point with Bobby Hill as to whether Voltigeur was the best colt ever stripped or dared to point out the slightest fault in his conformation offered a sure and certain cause for quarrel with tho old trainer, who zealously looked after Volti" himself. VOLTlGECRS FIRST VICTORY. His debut was made on Richmond Moor in the Wright Stakes, when, although backward, he cleverly defeated Mark Tapley. one of Tom Dawsons, which showed that he could race a bit when he beat the celebrated Nancy at Warwick. Bobby Hills confidence in him. coupled with the fact that he was fancied by the Karl of ZetU-nd End Mr. Williamson, soon oozed out and all the Tykes backed him for the Derby. It is said that when Voltigeur arrived in Iyjndon. accompanied by the famous "Tubal Cain" of Aske. his progress was like that of a fortign sovereign. A special train of North Riding farmers accompanied him and an equally large number of London backers cheered him as he was whirled into Kpsoirk On Sunday morning the critics visited the Downs to see him gallop, but owing to th* tediousness of the journey "Volti" went stiffly in his spin, and the critics voted him a lumbering coach horse, while sinister rumors as to Mr. Stevenson being largbly in the forfeit list caused him to be almost "knocked out." Thus it was that Pitsford and Clincher became greater favorites than ever. The following . morning the Earl of Zetlaid received 1 a communication from Weatherby Brother? that upward of ,000 were due in forfeits 5 from the nominator of Voltigeur and that t amount, they demanded, should be p«id up. Somewhat displeased at this uncrimonious 5 call upon him, the Karl of Zetland determined, upon the spur of the moment, to strike the horse out of the Derby aul actually . gave instructions to this effect. But the card 1 was induced to revoke his decision. BEATS BIG FIELD IX DERBY. A couple of dozen entered for the Derby, the field including Pitsfcrd, the champion i of the powerful Danebury stable, Clincher r and Mildew also having a large following. The "Macaulay of the Turf of that date e described the Derby finish as follows : "Now. Frank, lay on to Clincher just glance e to your right hand. Pitsford is at your saddle girth, they are e three lengths from the stand ; There goes Jobs finger off the rein, he e clears them at each stride. He wins, he wins, does Voltigeur, theres s T up on the side ! Tis done ; mixed pain and pleasure sets s each mad brain in a whirl. And loud claps of vocal thunder greet the red spots of the earl. While the delighted multitude by no means ■ lack the will To carry to the weighing-house Job, Voltigeur »• and Hill." The return of "Job" and Voltigeur to o Richmond was a triumphal one, rejoicing and d presents to Job being one of the warmest si and most numerous. There were yet other stirring incidents in ■tore in Voltigeurs career. He had yet to o win a "Sellinger" and beat The Flying Dutchman, 1- his dead heat with Russborough for the St. Leger being the most sensational. The unfair riding of Foley on Chatterbox, which made the running for Russborough for the te St. Leger and which crossed "Job" so often and got in his way that he was compelled **to come" earlier than he intended. In the lC decider, however, Voltigeur won in the most st decisive fashion. Never was there greater excitement on the e Town Mccr at Doncaster than when Voltigeur i- and The Flying Dutchman met on the ie Cup day, the Aske stable sending forth its ts champion bearing "spots" against the "Kg-lington - tartan." Joe Marson being unable to rid" the weight, t ; the mount on Voltigeur was given to Nat 11 Flatman. Marlow riding "Th" Dutchman," ." which mad- terrific running, but th«j ymce SC generally lold upon him. for aftir pas.-ing !- the Red H:-u«-e the l«ad whs dhninsiied ,j and at the distance Nat was at "The Dutchmans" ." quaiters. Volti s got him. Votip ? got him!" shouted Bobby Hill Ea fin r.gory cf delight and as the story goe* the million n took up the cry. The Dutchmans" fia;? IS vas hauled down for the tirst timj and ld oltigeur, amid such a scene .if excito.11 nt it as an Knglsl. MUM can oloae give rise sc- tc, was declared on-.- of rhe best horses cf tf, the- century, and one which had tny raaUsad ■ the honors expected of him as a foal and a "I I yt-u.rling. Pi cm this memorable Doncas.er Cup race ■•I e e e e s s ■ »• to o d si in to o 1- oetween Voltigeur and "The Dumma.i," ».»e g.-eil match between the pair originated and c -me off ovr two miles of In* Knavenire at York the tollowi.ig spring fo* J5.000 a side. William Osborne once said there was "mair folk on the Knavesmire that day than ever seen before and would ever be seen again." "The Dutchman," however, as-j I serted his superiority and. although excuses were offered for the Yorkshire idol, he was fairly defeated in a struggle in which all but honor was lost. Voltigeur came out the fol-e lowing day and was beaten when attempting to concede thirty-two pounds to Nancy, ■ which was well ridden by Johnny Osborne. I ■ As a sire Voltigeur left the stamp of his excellence on such celebrities of the turf as Vedette, Skirmisher, Bivouac, Sabreur. ; Bumblekite, Geant des Batailles, Brennus. | Fragrance and Falkland. Voltigeur was a j great favorite with Lord Zetland and wh.n 1 ! at Aske rarely a day passed when his l;.rd-n ship did not cast admirin.r ey°s over him. ! I The landseer Canvas in the Aske gallery reproduces in life size Voltigou.-"s great st-n.
