The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-04
MRS. LANGTRY RE.
TIRES FROM The TRACK.
She Has Had an Intensely Interesting Ca
reer On the Race Course Said to
Have Won Nearly 100000
With "Merman."

London, Dec. S-Mrs. Lily Langtry,
known in racing circles as Mr.. Jer-
sey," under which name her horses are
nominated in the English stakes is
about to dispose Of her racing stable
and to wash her hands forever of the
turf. She will do this at the expressed
wish Of her husband, Hugo Gerald de
Battle, who does not think it is a wo
mans province to own race horses. So
it may be honestly said that Mrs. Lang
try is giving up the amusement which
she loves best of all amusements, for
the sake of her husband.
1t was not until 1892 that Mrs. Lang
try's colors, turquoise and fawn hoops
and turquoise cap, were noticeable on
English race courses. Her infatuation
for the sport was encouraged by Alb
ingdon Baird, better known as Squire
Abingdon" who died in this country in
the early nineties, when touring with
Charley" Mitchell, the celebrated pu-
gilist.
The story told is that Mr.. Baird and
Mrs. Langtry were dining in London
when friend of Mr.. Baird made him
an offer for the horse Milford. Sew
eral sums were named, and a forty
thousand dollar offer met a fat re-
fusai.
IKE Boou morse mySeI, SIT, was
Mr.. Baird's reply to all offers.
After his friend left the dining ROOM
Mrs. Langtry intimated that she would
like to own a race horse.
I'll give you Milford" was Baird s
immediate reply, and Milford became
the nucleus of Mrs. Langtry's stable.
Milford, however did not prove the
gold mine one might naturally expect,
as he won few races, and finally devel-
oped into rogue, and became very I'M
reliable. But Mrs. Langtry was in the
thoroughbred business for money as
we'll as pleasure. She purchased and
sold horses during the season of 1898,
finally offering to release Milford for
$4,000, but his reputation was too we'll
known. She won considerable money
in purses in 1894. In 1895 Mrs. Lang
try's racing stable was known as Re-
gal Lodge, Newmarket. Her trainer
was Sam" Pickering, and she en-
ployed two jockeys, Trundley and
Feakes.
When not otherwise engaged Mrs.
Langtry spent much of her time at Re
gal lodge, paying all attention to her
horses. At o'clock in the morning she
would be on the heath watching the
morning gallops on the private track
connected with the lodge. She then had
II horses in training, including Milford,
Nobleman, Carrick, Pride of the Sea,
for which she paid a high price to Lord
Calthorpe; Chillington, which was
knocked down to her for $40 guineas,
and a dozen others of more or less
note.
During that season Regal lodge was
credited with some big winnings, near
ly every horse in the stable earning
winning brackets in stakes and purses.
The year 1896 was not so productive
as the year before, and in 1897 Fred
Webb was the trainer at Regal lodge.
1t was he who fitted the Australian
bred horse Norman for the Cesare-
witch. 1t was on Carewitch day that
Mrs. Langtry raised herself several
notches in the estimation of English
race-goers through the victory of Mer-
man.
1t was a great day in Mrs. Langtry' s
history. The crowd cheered, and she
was the queen of the meeting.
Cesarewitch day of 1897 was made