Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-07
WALESASSPORTSMAN
CHANCES ARE THAT HE MAT BE-
COME KING or THE TURF.
THREE and THIRTY YEARS 4 PATRON.
His CoIors Have Often Lasged I'm
Defeat, but Now They surely Lead
the vsn-Hs IL Slayer of Tigers,
Too.
tcorrespondence Of the pIspatch.>

Old King George Nv. never loved the ele-
royalty. So It is that this outline Of
the Princes favorite out-of-door recrea-
tions. probably presented for the first
time to American eyes. will interest.
There are few. bearing In mind the
modest commencement OF the Prince of
Wales's racing stud, who would have
thought 1t probable that within a COM
paratively short period his Royal High
ness would be fortunate enough to secure
the highest honors OF the turf That the
Prince Of Wales should have captured the
prize and the coveted Leger at the first
attempt was delightful in the extreme,
but in some respects the Ascot Cup VIC
tory OF Persimmon month ago. and on
the eve of the Diamond Jubilee celebra-
tons. became even more pleasant to look
back upon.
The Prince OF Wales has been more or
less identified with the turf for three
and thirty years, although his first visits
to the race-courss were much earlier
than that. As little boy he saw some
Of our finest thoroughbreds al EPSON and
Ascot, and nowhere is he more at home
than upon his hack on Newmarket heath.
When a student at oxford he hunted with
Lord Macclesfields hounds, and later on,
over the Badminton, and the Quorn. and
Cottesmore during Lord Carrington's
.mastership) countrie his Royal Highness
proved himself thoroughly at his ease
while the West Norfolk hounds have al
ways found in him a generous supporter.
A writer describing the Princes first
day In the Midands. during his visit to
Earl Spencer, at Althorp, said "One good
hour did they run. during which his
Royal Hghness was certainly not like a
candle under a bushel. Everybody who
had not too much TO care for in himself
paid marked attention to his performance.
and II IL not too much 10 say that II
ever n man acquitted himself to the sat
isfaction Of his examiners. the Prince
Of Wales did so on that eventful morn
ing.
II do not transgress confidence in
quoting the expressions OF very hard
rider and very good Judge: There are
few young 'squires, bred and born in
hunting country. who could hold their
own with his Royal Hlghness.' 1t was
In respect Of this days sport that Lord
Spencer asked Charles Payne, the hunts
man OF the Pytchley what he thought OF
the Prince OF Wales make n capital
king. my Lord" said Payne. Tim glad
you say so-and why?" asked Lord Spen-
| Ger. Sure to-sure to do that-he sits so
we'll" responded the huntsman. During
his visits 10 various country seats the
Prince has often been out with the hounds
Of the district. and for some time after
his fathers death he kept on the barriers
at Cumberland Lodge. His interest In
hunting and hunting men has never
| tagged.
Some interesting stories are told Of that
| famous hunting parson. the late Jack"
| Russell, In relation to a visit he paid TO
Mr.. Harry Villebois at Markham Hall
| when the Prince Of Wales and distin-
| guished company were the guests. The
| veteran sportsman had an opportunity or
| enjoying himself with the West Norfolk
| pack, and his Royal Highness did him
| the honor Of inviting him to Sandringham
| So agreeable was this visit to all con-
| cerned that the West Country sportsman
was asked again In the Christmas week,
and plumed himself nightly upon having
danced the old year out and the new
| year in with the Prince OF Wales at the
| tenants ball-a nimble accomplishment
| for a man Is years Of age.
He amused the royal party considerably
| one day at dinner by sending his plate up
| for fish the second time, when" as he
| remarked, II remember that's the very
| thing my wife charged me. on leaving
| home. not to do" A third visit to
| Sandringham was subsequently paid and
| 1t was the intention OF the Prince-frus-
trated only by illness In the royal house.
hold-to have had a few days with Mr.
Russell and the Devon and Somerset
stag hounds. Preparations had already
been made for him at Dunster Castle
when the postpcnement OF the trip was
announced.
HUNTING IN INDIA.
1t may, however be truly said that his
Royal Highness has had experience in
hunting and shooting OF all descriptions
In all parts OF the country, from his boy
hood onward. While in India he killed
six tigers in one day at Nepau, and
during the same tour he derived much
enjoyment from elephant shooting and
pig-sticking. The wldely-increased at
tention given to yachting has been enor-
mously stimulated by the performances
OF the Britannia, and the Prince as keen
iy enjoys a sail before the wind as the
pleasures of the field and the race-course.
But from the nature of things his pa
tronage of the turf was bound TO attract
most notice from the masses OF the peo-
pie. among whom 1t is usually supposed
that the first race In which the Royal
Jacket was carried was run at Newman
ket exactly twenty years ago.
This match. between the Princes Arab
steed Alep. ridden by Jones. and Lord
Strathnairn's Avowal. steered by the late
Tom Chaloner, aroused a good deal of
interest at the Newmarket July meeting
| OF 1877. II took place over four miles
OF the Round Course, and resulted In
an easy victory for Avowal. the Arab
being beaten by thirty lengths. For
long afterwards the Princes position as
a race-horse owner was almost one Of
courtesy, although he sometimes acted
as nominator. For instance. he named
Iroquois for the Stockbridge Cup in 1888.
| This American winner of the English
| Derby was owned by Pierre Lorillard.
SO far back as 1911 the Prince OF Wales
| registered those same Royal colors which
| had for so many years been missed from
Weatherby's list. He has not. as a
| winning owner, outstripped the total OF
| that other Prince of Wales. who. previous
| to his accession to the throne as George
w. manifested an immense interest In
| the turf but there Ia no doubt that he
| will do so. Considering the comparative
| ~ small value Of the stakes In the last
century, the success Of the Royal jacket
was stupendous. although 1t must DO
borne In mind that competition and the
average size OF the fields were much less
| formidable than now.
Between 1854 and l7sz the Prince won
| 1856 races, including the Derby. with BIT
| Thomas, and eighteen Kings Plates. Al
ter the dispute with the Jockey Club the
Prince withdrew from the turf for some
years. but between 1900 and 1877 he won
| III races. and then again. as King, pc
| tween 1897 and 1880. he carried on twenty