Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-09
NOBLE SPORTING MEN.
Rich Young English Lords Who Have
Fine Horses and Bet on Them.
A PRINCE WHO LIKES TO BET.
Blue-BlOoded Women Who Haunt the Race
Courses Abroad.
roonREspoxDEScE OF THE DlsPATcH.l

which strikes an outsider visiting the prl-
va4e inrIosure Of crack British race meet
inp is the moody countenance and freezing
reserve of the aristocratic habitue The
bookmakers may be screaming out the odds
and the common people roaring their de-
light during the progress of race, but the
noble sportsman rarely raises his voice above
its ordinary conversational tone, and he
must be watched closely and continuously
before one can detect the muscular twiteh-
ings, the involuntary flush, the gnawing of
the neither lip, which prove that his calm
ness is simply assumed because it is sup
posed that only the vulgar people wear their
hearts upon their sleeves.
Occasionally human nature will cause even
a noble lord to break through this artificial
restraint when he has an unusually heavy
stake upon particular horse, and then he
proves to be quite common person, cursing
his hard luck in ordinary oaths or offering
to stand drinks with the irrational enthusi-
asm and generosity of the drygoods young
man who has won his first bet. But these
occasions are very rare and receive 10 en-
couragement from the well-bred icebergs
who float around the paddock and follow in
melancholy procession the Prince of Wales
whenever His Royal Highness deigns, and
that is not unfrequently, to put in an ap-
pearance at Newmarket, EPSON, Doncaster,
Goodwood and Ascot.
ROYALTY AT THE RACES.
Royalty rarely misses any one of these
meetings, and the Princess of Wales will
often accompany her free-and-easy spouse
especially to EPSON and Ascot. She does
not devotemuch attention to the racing, but
occupies herself chiefly in looking after her
daughters and guests. The young prin-
cesses cannot be said to be handsome, for
they take too much after their royal father,
but they are young and full of spirit, aud
courtiers say that, like their beautiful and
popular mother they are very gracious to
those around them. The Prince of Wales
likes the sport, is fond of betting and still
ionder of winning. He does not bet very
often, but then he rarely misses a good
thing. His racing counEelors are Sir Fred
erick Johnstone, Lord Abingdon, Sir George
Chetwynd and Mr.. Mackenzie, the latter a
rich Scotch laird who claims to be descended
in the direct line from the ancient kings of
Scotland. These tour sportsmen know
pretty well all that is worth knowing about
form, trials and jockeys and trainers
gossip.
-
news can find ready market with all or
any one of them, and they will spend money
freely, secretly or openly, it does not mat
ter much to them, to obtain a good thing
which will enable them to place their bets
and give the Prince tip. His Royal High
ness does not bet for himself, his commits
sions being executed by Johnstone Aling-
ton or Chetwynd. He wins much ottener
than he loses, because his advisers, know
ing that the royal temper is apt to be upset,
at the end of bad day, take care to give
him what they believe to be the very
straightest of straight tips.
FIXING A RACE.
The royal sportsman has made several
efforts to become the owner of good fiat
racers but his speculations have been un-
fortunate. But he has had better luck with
steepleehasers, in which department his
right hand man is Lord Marquis Beresford,
brother of the Marquis of Waterford, and
chief sporting member of a famous Irish
sporting family. Lord Marcus years ago
tried to enjoy himself like Marquis upon
the slender portion of younger son. got
into difficulties and was set upon his legs
again by being appointed official starter to
the Jockey Club, at a salary of S., 900 a
wear. Lord Marcus and John Jones, the
Epson trainer, persuaded the Prince to pur-,
chase the horse Magic which has turned out
almost a first rate steeplechaser at three
miles. The animal has won several races in
the royal colors-purple and scarlet with
gold braid-and won them on his merits,
but his first win, at Liverpool, was motor
iously arranged by the owners of the other
horses in order to please the Prince and in
duce him to attend Liverpool races more
regularly:
The Princes favorite racing town is New
~ l,of Al
do not mob him whenever he stirs abroad.
I met him in High street there a week or so
ago strolling along quite unattended and
unnoticed. He was got up in correct sport
ing fashion, and wore among other striking
things pair of long yellow riding boots
which well set off the handsome legs and
ankles of which his Royal Higmess is inor-
dinately proud. 1 have frequently seen the
Prince in London, and upon every occasion
his face had the same mechanical, half
foolish, halfamiable smile, which is part of
the royal outfit when moving about town.
At Newmarket, however, the Prince was
without the stereotyped smile, and walked
along whistling and whacking his big boots
with whip as though life was worth living
there at any rate.
YOUNG COLLARS AND CUFFS.
The Princes eldest son, Albert Victor,
better known by his popular name of "Col-
lars and Cuffs, " is a fast young man, who is
engaged just now in having his fling under
the kindly and not tunsympathetic eve of his
royal papa Albert Victor is not a beauty,
and would be considered an average speci-
men of an ordinary dude were it not for his
neck, which is as long as a comelopard's
and attracts unwelcome attention, wherever
he goes. The youngster has recently regis
tered his own colors, but only for regimental
hacing.
Lord Abingdon is altogether unlike the
popular idea of a lord. He bears a most
ludicrous resemblance to Nat Goodwin. His
lordshlp has the same queer property SMILE
Ihe same unctous expression and quick
perky manner which are connected in the
popular mind with Goodwin in some of his
burlesque roles. Lord Abingdon bets with
the perslstency and courage begotten of
knowledge, and rarely makes a serious mis-
take. he is not so reserved as the general
crowd of aristocratic sportsmeu. and after
lunch be has been known to handy unrefned
Jokes with bookmakers. Years ago when he
was plain Mr.. Sturt, he was wild and reck-
less, and although he has long since settled
down, he is fond of a revel still in congenial
company. He usually bets with Bookmaker
Steel, d long-limbed, long-faced Yorkshire
man, who began business life at Sheffield as
a fish hawker, and is now great iron mas
ter and millionaire as well as a bookmaker
His partner, one Peech, is as round, podgy
and red as Steel is long, lank and white,
and the pair are known as Goblin and
Short.
AN ECCENTRIC HoRSEMAN.
One of the richest and oldest of owners is
Mr.. Richard Naylor of Hootton Hall, who
in his time has owned Stockwell, Macaroui
and other famous horses and has won most |
of the great races. Naylor is about so years
old. hut Hale and hearty. He guards his |
money with parsimonious care heartbreak- |