Lord William Beresford, V.C., Some Memories of a Famous Sportsman, Soldier and WitMenzies, Stuart, Mrs.
History
Lord William Beresford, V.C., Some Memories of a Famous Sportsman, Soldier and Wit
Menzies, Stuart, Mrs.
Beresford, William Leslie de la Poer, Lord, 1847-1900
good deal. I have heard it remarked that he lost his nerve a little,
and after making a big book would hedge it off again, thereby not
making the sums he might have done over his own horses, but I think
we may take it his lordship knew what he was doing, and did it fairly
satisfactorily.
In February, 1892, that wonderful pony Lord Clyde, whose legs must
have been made of cement, won the Merchants’ Purse at Lucknow with
ease, Arabi Pasha the Derby, and Negus the Civil Service Cup.
Racing people in India were growing restive at the formidable
Patiala-Beresford stable winning so many of the best races, but if
the stewards and officials who arrange the different meetings invite
outsiders to compete they must not cry if they come and at times
carry off their prizes. Both the Maharajah and Lord Bill were so
extraordinarily generous they cared much less for the cash and prizes
than for the glory of winning, and would willingly have given them
the value of the stakes if that was all that mattered.
The Patiala Prince started some races of his own in April, 1892, on
his own estate. They became very popular, and his hospitality was
remarkable, everything well done, and Lord William able to help him
in laying out and arranging the course, which was 1½ miles long, and
well kept. It boasted of two grand stands, stables, dressing-rooms,
weighing-room, and all the heart of man or beast could desire.
On the opening day both the Maharajah and his A.D.C., Sirdar Preetum
Singh, rode in races, each being a winner. The bookmakers did good
business too.
At Agra the stable did fairly well, winning the Bhurtpore Plate
with Doris, Bar Stakes with Teviot, three races with Edith, and the
Auction Stakes with Joker. Small wonder folk felt nervous when the
Patiala-Beresford horses appeared on the scenes.
At Simla, on the new altered course, the races could hardly be called
gymkhanas any longer, many good horses coming from far and near to
compete. Lord William won the Jakko Stakes with his Coffee, but I do
not remember any other wins of this time at Annandale, though there
may have been several.
[Illustration: NEW PAVILION AT ANNANDALE]
The majority of his horses, as well as the viceregal horses, were
summering at Dehra as usual. This year a few were sent to Nami Tal,
another hill station, by way of a change and to represent the stable
in some races and gymkhanas. Two horses that had lately been imported
to India were causing anxiety, they were not doing very well at
Dehra, but as they had come out in that trying month of August it
was hardly surprising. It was my fate once to be in the Red Sea in
August, and I almost made up my mind to die, but thought better of
it, while a real live judge on board made no bones about it, and did
lie down and die, though everybody did their best for the poor old
man with ice, fans, and punkahs.
At Meerut Doris won the Haupur Stakes, Cuba the Handicap Hurdles,
Tabby the Aligarh Stakes, Edith the Railway Stakes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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