DEVASTATING news in The Northern Echo 150 years ago this week. “Voltigeur, the pride of Yorkshire sportsmen, and one of the best and most popular horses that ever trod the British turf, was destroyed shortly before seven o’clock on Saturday evening,” it said.

The Northern Echo: The Northern Echo's report of the death of Voltigeur in February 1874

Volti was bred in 1847 and was owned by the Earl of Zetland, of Aske Hall near Richmond, where he was trained. In 1850, after winning his only race at Richmond racecourse, Volti won the Epsom Derby at odds of 16-1. It was said that Lord Zetland’s tenants in the town won so much that up to 10 of them drank themselves to death within a year in celebration.

Volti then won the St Leger at Doncaster in a run-off after the main race finished in a dead heat, and two days later turned out in the Doncaster Cup, going head to head with the Middleham-trained Flying Dutchman, the greatest racehorse of the day. In a major surprise, Volti won by half-a-length.

The Northern Echo: Voltigeur pulling ahead of The Flying Dutchman in "the great match". This painting was so popular in the early 1850s that practically every village in the country had a copy - and many had a pub named in honour of VoltigeurThe Flying Dutchman overtakes Voltigeur in the Great Match

A rematch – called “the great match” – was held the following spring, at the Knavesmire at York, in front of at least 150,000 people. Volti was ahead for most of the two miles, but was pipped at the post.

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AND: THE FLYING DUTCHMAN TAKES ON VOLTIGEUR IN THE GREAT MATCH

It didn’t really matter in Richmond where Volti was such a hero that his lordship erected a large triumphal arch to celebrate his triumphs. It still stands on the hill down into Gilling West.

The Northern Echo: The Voltigeur Arch on the road between Richmond and Gilling WestThe Voltigeur Arch on the outskirts of Richmond

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The Northern Echo: The Landseer painting showing Voltigeur and two cats on a stairway at Aske Hall

A picture of Voltigeur on the stairs at Aske Hall - is that his favourite tortoiseshell cat on the painting as well?

Volti spent the rest of his days at stud at Aske, where his constant companion was a tortoiseshell cat that slept on his back.

The Northern Echo: The 2nd Earl of Zetland, owner of Voltigeur and a keen freemason - masons, as well as Yorkshire tenants, heavily backed the horse for the 1850 DerbyThe 2nd Earl of Zetland, owner of Voltigeur and a keen freemason - masons, as well as Yorkshire tenants, heavily backed the horse for the 1850 Derby

“The late Earl took a great pride in his favourite Voltigeur and when well and at home, his lordship scarcely ever missed a day without paying a visit to see the animal which had won for him so much racing renown in days gone by,” said the D&S.

However, 150 years ago, he was kicked accidentally by a mare called Time Test. At first, he seemed okay, but next morning, he was unable to stand in his stable. Volti’s leg was broken.

The Northern Echo: The stables at Aske Hall where Voltigeur spent most of his life, and where he diedThe stables at Aske Hall where Volti lived, and died 150 years ago

“Mr John Hedley, of Richmond, was communicated with, and poor Voltigeur was shot in his box at Aske,” said the Echo. “His legs and tail were taken off and will be cured and kept in memoriam.”

A cannon bone from one of his legs is on display in a frame at York racecourse but his tail now seems to have disappeared from public view. The rest of his body was buried at Aske.

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