On Wednesday, 4 April, 1866, the annual steeplechases were held at Ringmer, East Sussex. The weather was atrocious, and the ground heavy.
Jockey Allen Kilner Sadler had been booked to ride a horse called Barabas.
The horse reached the last fence but was too tired in the conditions to take it. A Mr Wyatt appeared, and struck the animal violently with a whip on its quarters. Then Sadler, too, began whipping the unfortunate animal.
Eventually Barabas was persuaded to make a second attempt to clear the fence. The horse failed and fell on to a bank with its head and legs doubled under its body. Immediately Sadler inflicted a further dozen severe blows so violently that the crowd rushed over to protect the stricken animal. The police were urged to take the jockey into custody.
The horse, being unable to move itself, was lifted up by several people and supported for a short distance, when it walked away very slowly, bleeding and much exhausted. Covered in mud, it was taken back to its stable, reaching there a little before midnight.
It was left unwashed until seven the next morning.
The matter came to court: it was discovered that while Sadler urged the horse on, several people on horseback, seeing the state that it was in, rode across its path to prevent it continuing.
Sadler was having none of it, and drove them back, whipping his mount as he did so.
The magistrate was of the opinion that the charge of cruelty had been proved.
Allen Sadler was fined £3 plus costs. Mr Wyatt was fined £2, as was the owner of the horse, Mr Duke.
Allen had previously won the 1860 Cesarewitch on Dulcibella for trainer William Day.
Allen Sadler died on 5 June, 1877, aged 33.