MR. VEVERS ON "LITTLE TOMMY."

ENGRAVED BY E, HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY T. WOODWARD.

We this month present to our readers the portrait of a gentleman well known to the sporting community all through the kingdom, and of whom it may truly be said that he is not more known than respected. It is that of William Vevers, Esq., of Dormington Court, of whose sporting career the following sketch presents a slight outline, though necessarily an imperfect one, and wanting in that breadth and filling-up which his own recollections alone could supply.

Mr. Vevers, born in the year 1782, is the son of John Vevers, Esq., of Yarkhill Court, in Herefordshire, not far from the present residence of the subject of our notice, and where another son, Mr. John Vevers, now resides. As a rider to hounds he has been known in the county ever since his boyhood, and few better men across country, even at his present age, are to be found in any part of England. He has hunted at various periods of his life with most packs of the foxhounds, which, coupled with his riding in steeple-chases, has probably made him personally known to the majority of our readers; and will so enable them to judge of the fidelity of the portrait we now offer to their attention.*

Living in a county pre-eminently distinguished for the sportsmanlike character of its yeomen, Mr. Vevers has been from an early period of his life a frequent competitor for the Hunters' Stakes at the Hereford Races, in which, as well as in other races for heavy weights, he was generally his own jockey, in addition to occasionally riding for his friends. He has ever been distinguished by an elegant and firm seat, and fine horsemanship, and his race at Warwick, in 1816, for the Hunters' Stakes, which he won in five heats with his mare Bradamante, by Brigliadoro, many of his old friends can still recollect with pleasure. Mr. Vevers has been the owner of many racehorses, among which was the celebrated Lady Byron, one of the best, if not the very best, fourmile horses of her day: she was by Sir Ulic, and though a light small animal, concluded a very successful career by winning a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, at Newmarket, in 1818, beating Belville, Wanderer, Castrella, and Discord. Belville was then considered the best four-mile horse which the North could produce, and Wanderer the best of the South; Castrella was also considered one of the best mares in training, and two of the best horses and two of the best mares in the kingdom for the course run over were thus brought together. The race excited great interest, and betting was very high upon it, but principally between Belville and Wanderer, Lady Byron being then thought but little of against such competitors. She, however, made all the running at such a pace as stopped Discord shortly after the start, while Castrella pulled

* The best hunter he ever possessed was Rattler, a horse of great speed, and equal to twenty stone, which, when blemished, and ten years old, he sold to the French Government for 300 guineas. He proved one of the best stallions ever imported into France.

up after going about a mile and a quarter. After such a performance she naturally became a great favourite for the succeeding Worcestershire Stakes, but from the over-zeal of an injudicious trainer, who thought to give the finishing touch to her preparation by an extra gallop, broke down the evening before. She was afterwards kept as a brood mare by Mr. Vevers, and Vaga, Vivid (the dam of the steeple-chase horse, Verax), and Villager, were among her produce. The latter, a very superior horse, was sold to Mr. Dilly for 600 guineas. Mr. Vevers has also figured as the owner of the racehorses Bolus, Bauble, Tom Tough, Lemonade, Haydon, Bro. to Manfred, Plautus, Fugitive, Catherine Ogie, Pomona, Marianne, Lismahago, Voyager, Venator, and several others, most of whom were winners. Bolus was sold to Mr. Apperley, the celebrated Nimrod, who in the Sporting Magazine spoke of him as the most perfect horse he had ever met with.

It is, however, in the steeple-chasing world that Mr. Vevers is most extensively known, having been engaged in it almost from its commenement among us, and having been the owner of some of the best horses in England. He commenced by winning the Ross Steeple Chase, with his horse Sailor Boy, ridden by himslf, though sustaining a heavy fall in the course of the race. His famous horse, Charity, by Woodman, was almost the best competitor the famous Lottery ever met, even in his best days, ere handicap steeple-chases were known, and 12st. each the regular weight. Charity was purchased by Mr. Vevers of Mr. Williams, of Cowarn Court, Herefordshire, and had previously appeared in two or three steeple-chases, but without success. In Mr. Vevers's hands

he won the Usk Stakes and the Hurdle Race at Cardiff, and the Hurdle Race at Monmouth, in 1836. The Aberystwith Hurdle Race, the Farmers' Plate, the Hunters' Stakes, and the Hurdle Race at Hereford, in 1838, all at the same meeting; and the Hunters' Stakes and Hurdle Race at Hereford, in 1839. He also won the Broadway, Alcester, and several other steeple chases, and in 1841 the great Liverpool Steeple Chase. His last race was at Swindon, which he must have won but for an unfortunate mistake: only he and Vanguard being left in the race at the conclusion, and Charity, who was leading about a length, having evidently the best of the pace. The officials, however, having neglected to remove a set of hurdles which should have been taken down after being once crossed, Charity lost his advantage by dwelling a little in taking them, and it being close on the post Vanguard won. Charity remained in Mr. Vevers's possession till he died. Besides those we have mentioned, Mr. Vevers has brought out Little Tommy, the winner of the Monmouthshire and Herefordshire Steeple Chase, the result of a challenge of the Hunt Clubs of one county to the other, which excited great interest in the neighbourhood; Velocity, winner of the Ledbury and Kidderminster Steeple Chases; Cruickshanks, winner of the Northleach ; Very Bad, Vengeance, Vainhope, Venice, Volatile, and several others, all of whom are well known to the public. In steeple-chasing as well as in flat-racing Mr. Vevers has frequently been his own jockey. In the Paris Steeple Chase of 1846 he rode Little Tommy, being at that time 64 years of age, and ran a close second to Mr. Tilbury's Culverthorpe. Amongst the French people, to whom everything relating to a steeple. -chase was then new, nothing excited more surprise than to see a man of his years engaged in a contest which appeared to them of such a fearful