2-889-404 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Doncaster Races - the Dead-Heat for the St. Leger Stakes, between "Voltigeur" and "Russborough" - "Bolingbroke" third, 1850. 'Voltigeur, the winner of the Derby, and whose triumph upon the great northern course was looked forward to as a "dead certainty," and upon whom 6 to 4 was freely offered...was run to a level nose by Russborough, an Irish horse, hitherto unknown to fame...During the final struggle the whole compact mass heaved...with agitation; and the huge...roar of many lusty voices - "Voltigeur wins!" - "Russborough wins!"...There are many - sage men, and of authority - who maintain that there is no such thing as a dead heat - that one horse's nose must be, if even a hair's breadth, a little more forward than the other's. Very possible: but...who is to decide upon so nice a shade of a shaving of a difference?...To the book-maker the occurrence...is perplexing in the extreme.' From "Illustrated London News", 1850.