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
Fling open the gates of the equine Valhalla
While the notes of his requiem mournfully ring,
Staunchest of thoroughbreds, best of Australians,
Champion of India, brave Myall King.
Yet, if there’s a future for men and for horses,
Perhaps our old hero we once more may see,
Grazing free on sweet clover in meadows celestial,
Happy as sportsmen all wish him to be.
The following shows at a glance the horse’s performances:--
_Myall King, by King Cob--Queen of the Forest_
Weights. Distance. Time.
1887, Dec. Calcutta Viceroy’s Cup 8.8 1¾ m. 3 m. 9½ s.
Durbangah Cup 9.0 1 m. 6 f. 3 m. 20½ s.
132 yds.
1888, Feb. Lucknow Stewards’ Purse 10.3 2 m. 3 m. 41 s.
1888, Dec. Calcutta Viceroy’s Cup 9.0 1¾ m. 3 m. 7½ s.
1890, Dec. Calcutta Viceroy’s Cup 9.0 1¾ m. 3 m. 8 s.
1891, Feb. Lucknow Stewards’ Purse 9.7 1½ m. 2 m. 41 s.
1891, Dec. Calcutta Viceroy’s Cup -- -- Ran third
1892, -- Hyderabad Gold Cup 9.7 2 m. --
Misfortunes seldom come singly. Another catastrophe occurred almost
directly after Myall King’s, that useful pony Edith fell at the same
place, putting her shoulder out, so of course she could race no more.
On December 2nd, at the first Extra Calcutta Meeting, Release ran
a dead-heat with Mr. Apcar’s Sapper in the Pony Plate, which was
unsatisfactory to both. At the second Extra Meeting Ivo won the
Fort Stakes, First Shot, looking splendid, won the Pony Trials, and
Westminster the Maiden Horse Stakes. Prince Imperial the Hastings
Plate Hurdles.
Then came the eventful Cup Day. Excitement had been great for some
time and now grew intense. Many people thought the Maharajah of Kooch
Behar’s Highborn was certain to win, though in the opinion of some
he was a trifle overtrained. Lord William also had plenty of backers.
As the horses cantered past to the post, Highborn certainly did look
tired and a little stale, while Tostig, Lord William’s horse, or I
should say the Confederacy horse, was looking very fit. They both got
away well, and Vinall kept his charge going from the first, hoping
to reduce his field a bit; he kept the lead until the last turn for
home, when it was observed Highborn was creeping up, though pale blue
and black cap was still leading. Presently Trahan, who was riding
Highborn, threw up his arm and began riding for a finish. This made
the crowd shout out, “Highborn’s beaten, Highborn’s done,” and the
field thought all was over but the shouting, and Lord William would
be victorious. Both jockeys now meant business; both were riding
every inch resolutely, but in spite of Vinall’s best endeavours, the
black landed his head well in front as he passed the winning post,
conqueror by a length.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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