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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 193, 5 April 1894, Page 4

An interesting sporting lawsuit is pend ing in America and England in connection with the great Ormonde. Mr McDonough, the owner of that famous stallion, is to be proceeded against by Dr. Wm. G. Ross, who bought Ormonde for Mr McDonough for 42,000 dollars, for damages for violation of contract. The case is of interest to sportsmen, and serves to explain the incidents of the purchase of this noted stallion. In the course of an interview with an American journalist Dr. Ross said : —“ln 1891 I was in England, and while there saw nearly all the great racers. I was much taken with the performances of Ormonde’s sons, and was anxious to buy a good stallion if I could find some one who would share the risks. In 1892 I returned to California and became acquainted with Mr McDonough. He learned from me that Ormonde was for sale and concluded to buy him if possible. He seemed to be very ambitious to own a good stallion. Ormonde had been sold to Don Jean Boucan for 72,000 dollars by the Duke of Westminster, and was quartered near Magdelena, Argentine Republic. McDonough and I entered into a verbal agreement as set forth in my complaint. I found that Charles Reed, the famous Tennessee horse owner, was bargaining for the stallion, and had gone to South America. I cabled the owner an offer of subject to my approval of the horse This fell through, as there was already a purchaser in the field. In October, 1892, I went to England to try and negotiate a sale. Mr Reed offered for Ormonde, and Mr McDonough directed me to accept Mr Reed’s estimate of the condition and value of the horse, and to offer as high as 000 if necessary. I offered and it was accepted. There was an embargo or mortgage on the stallion for 85,000 dollars borrowed by Boucan, and as a matter of fact Boucan would never have sold the horse if he had not been pushed financially. I arrived at Southampton Jan. 12, 1893, and secured quarters for the stallion on the estate of the Duke of Richmond, but Mr McDonough did not agree with me as to the disposition of Ormonde, and his solicitor attempted to secure possession in the English courts. I interposed a claim for /'zsoo for services rendered up to date. The Court ordered him to deposit £3OOO to cover my claim and the expenses of the suit before he was given possession of the stallion. The action is now pending before the English

Supreme Court, and his deposit is still there.” Mr McDonough’s answer to the statements of Dr. Ross is that the horse was really bought through Tattersall’s, of London, and that he paid that firm 3800 dollars commission on the purchase. He states that Dr. Ross abandoned the horse in England, and caused him such trouble with the English Courts that he is determined to fight to the bitter end any claim the doctor may put forward.