3-039-066 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Lord Lurgan's greyhound, Master M'Grath, 1871. 'By carrying off the Waterloo Cup for the third time, a feat which coursing writers unanimously pronounced him incapable of, Master M'Grath has stamped himself as the most remarkable greyhound ever put into the slips...with the exception of Cerito, no other greyhound has ever won the great event twice...His ignominious downfall [at the Waterloo Cup] is a matter of history - he failed to score a single meritorious point; and, to complete his misfortunes, he fell through the thin ice which coated one of the dykes and would probably have been drowned, but for an enthusiastic Irishman, who plunged in up to his neck to save "the darlint."...he again started first favourite [in the Waterloo Cup], but this time at the more reasonable odds of 10 to 1...he showed much of his old speed, and seemed to have regained his cleverness. He was somewhat favoured in having weak hares, and consequently short courses, but there can be no doubt that his victory was fairly earned and thoroughly deserved. On Wednesday week her Majesty [Queen Victoria] honoured the dog with a special invitation to Windsor, and on the following day he went to Marlborough House to be inspected by the Prince and Princess of Wales'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.