WILLIAM I'ANSON.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7779, 5 February 1891, Page 6

WILLIAM I'ANSON.

Since the year 1849, when William the elder, a Highlander by birth, as the name implies, and father of the present representatives of the name, moved to Spring Cottage, Malton, where he was engaged as Jirivate trainer to Mr A. Johnetone, 'Anson has been as familiar in the mouths of sporting men as household words. For at least twenty years previous to that he trained in Scotland, and was as well known north of the Tweed as he was subsequently south of it. As early as 1839 he had prepared.Laneroost to win the first race for the Cambridgeshire as a four-year-old ; this was for Mr Ramsey, with whom he remained for fifteen years, until that gentleman reduced his stud in 1841, when he went over to Mr Merry at Gullane, and while in his employ brought out Chanticleer, Marian, Ramsay, Smike, Limestone, Maid of Motherwelt, Scon after he became proprietor of Spring Cottage many famous owners gathered round him—Captain Barclay of XTry, Mr V. Surtees, Earl Foulett, Sir G. H. Boswell, Mr P. Watt, Mr Henry Chaplin, &c As the trainer of Blink Bonny, the only mare since Eleanor that has achieved the double event on Epsom Downs, of Blair Athoi, Caller Ou, Queen Mary, and many another who achieved some of the greatest feats in racing history, his name will be remembered as long as the Turf exists. Having realised a splendid fortune William I'Anson, in 1865; gave up training and purchased Highfield House and farm, previously the residence and stables of the renowned Bill Scott, and the long range of beautiful meadows adjoining bounding the highway between I>angton Wold'and Malton, the whole enclosed in a ring fence over a mile and a quarter in circumference; within this he erected model buildings which he called in honour of one of the most famous of hie horses—Blink BonnyV Stud Farm. A lovely spot is Langton Wold, seen under the deep blue of- such a sky as has canopied some of the most fortunate districts of "Merry England" during the present September; the little race-ground was Bill Scott's favourite place for trying his horses, and many a Derby and St. Leger have been decided there long before the numbers went up at Epsom or Doncaster. There is Mai ton with its red-tiled roofs snugly nestled in a hollow, with a yellow wheat forming a rich background

on the hflis. Across the valley is Langtonhill, a favourite watch-tower of the toot, •who, with field-glass in hand, would easconcehimself there on trial mornings to spot the winners, and many & time has artful Williansent these astute gentlemen on a wild goose chase by flourishing some second-rate animal, while the real Simon Pore was caref ully kept in the background; and how Bill would chuckle to see them tearing off with their mare's nest, and how he would curaethem —and Bill was a rare"cusser," quite a past-master in the use of expletives. A turn of the eye brings the thick green woods of Castle Howard within your vision. Many a quaint picture and reminiscence of the old days rise before us as we contemplate the landscape. How admirably has the most charming of all sporting writers limned the, spot on atrial morning forty years ago:—" Volta and nine others from Whitewall are all at work, while John Scott walks by the side of I'Anson's pony, clasping his stick behind his back, and looks as if he would like to be up and at strange out'ying pickets, as they lean in a strangling line agiinst the aged thorns which flank the gallop. And now the word is given, and each watcher steals away to another watch-tower among the gorse. John Scott, in his phaeton, with Holmes, in his green coat, and marching as erect as one of the Old Guard, in the van, a friend on horseback at his side, a lemon and white terrier keeping a sharp look out, complete the Whitewall procession, as it adjourns, for an hour, to the tan jrillop." At the Stud Farm I'Anson devoted himself to breeding, and proved as successful in that as in the original business. This upon his. death, at the beginning of the year 1831, he left to Mr Miles I'Anson ; and to his son, William, Highfield House, to which a farm and some capital ground for exercising horses were attached.

William I'Anson, the youngest son of twelve children who bore the honoured name, was born at Gullane in the year 1815, on September 18th, the very day on which Sir Tatton Sykes, owned and ridden by Bill Scott, won the St. Leper, a notable day in racing annals. The great Doncaster event of two years previous, when Faueh-a-Ballagh won, had also been a red-letter day in the life of I'Anson, for it was the same on which he purchased Queen Mary, then a yearling, for 300 guineas, from Air Ramsay, of Barnton, and at the same sale bid for Mendicant, but was knocked out by John Gully, who went as far as 400 guineas. It was on the retirement of his father from the training business, which, as we have previously stated, took place ia 1865, that William the younger first started on his own account at Highfleld, where, however, at this time he remained only two years, removing to Hambletou House, near Thirsk. One of the first horses he galloped over the ancient moor that has been so many generations associated with the noble eporb was Little Nell, a daughter of Blair Atbol, who afterwards won the Doncaster Plate for Count Batthyany, the son of the prince of that ilk. He subsequently brought out several other winners—Bonnie May and The Pearl among the rest —until in the autumn of 1873 be was appointed private i rimer to Mr Chaplain. Here he brought out Clearweli, the winner of the Great Northern Handicap of 1875. It was just after this that the master of Blankney sold his racing stud, and Mr l'Auson's next move was back to old High field, where he has settled down in earnest to a career which, to judge by the present aspect of affairs, promises to be as successful an one as that of his father. His two earliest patrons were Mr J. B. Cookson aud. Mr C. Perkins. The most famous horse of those early days was Beauclerc, one of the Rosicrucian and Queen Mary- breed, which he bred and sold ac a yearling to Mr Perkins for 1050 guineas. Beauclerc began by winning the Middle Park Plate, and great hopes were entertained of bis chance for the Two Thousand, Derby, Prix de Paris, and St. Leger ; but a miahaD obliged his being struck out of the three first, and though he ran for the last he failed to take the cake. In 1831 I'Anson again took the Great Northern Handicap, for Mr Perkins, with Madame dv Barry, and the Gimcrack Stakes with Purse bearer, while three years later he captured the Great Ebor with Ben Alder. A very good year for our trainer was 1888 : he took between seventy and eighty races, great and small, worth close upon £18,000 —with Lady Muncaster, who won six; Veracity, the winner of eight; Castor, of ten; and Lobster, of fourteen. Cascor also took the Liverpool Summer Cup of 1887, and Veracity the Cambridgeshire of 1888, though previous to that he bad been sold to Mr Leigh for 2,500 guineas. Mr I' Anson is very popular in Malton and the neighbourhood, not only on account of his private character, but from his patronage of sport of all kind s, and there is no shorter road to a Yorkshireman's heart than to be a good all-round sportsman. He is an especial adept at Curling, having been a pupil of his father's ia the famous old Scotchgame. As a trainer it suffices to say that Highfield has now superseded, or rather absorbed, both Malton, the elder I'Anson's quarters, and Whitewall as well.

Malton, as every one knows, is charmingly situated in one of the most picturesque pares of Yorkshire, in one of those grand dales or valleys for which the county of many acres is so celebrated. Highfield is redolent of memories of Bill Scott, and the high jinks he carried on there. What a miscellaneous collection of humanity of all sorts used to be gathered beneath that roof in his time I Lords, lawyers, foreigners, who, if of sporting taste, journeyed to see the renowned William as pilgrims in old days to a shrine; authoi s and actors from London ; squires, farmers, trainers, even clergymen, from everywhere in the September days when the excitement of the St. Leger was on, or coming on, everybody was anxious to know what the Wizard was going to run for the " Silliuger," and when the trials would come off. All found a welcome round that hospitable board. Many a grand coup has been planned within those walls, coups the effect of which have been felt far and wide in the downfall of the rich, and the enrichment of the Door. All have passed away now into the land of shadows, and not one left behind to tell the tale. But Highfield still remains, and owns a master quite as worthy as he who went before. Upon entering the diningroom one of . the first objects that attract attention is the Doncaster Cup for 1885, won by Hambledon, Mr I'Anson'3 own horse; it ie a beautiful work of art, consist* ing of two -large Bacchanalian figures supporting a bowl; the Caledonian Cup, captured by Castor, is very beautiful, representing the entry of Mary Queen of Scots into Edinburgh. Besides these are racing trophies, both silver and sold galore; and a silver cup for the best sheep at the York Christmas Show of 1880, and a silver cup and jewel case, prizes for coursing. We hope next year to be in a position to congratulate the worthy trainer in carrying off one one of the great classical events. There would be high jinks at Malton; plenty of beef and beer would be had without asking on that day, and soon may it come to pass, for there is no man more deserving of Fortune's smiles than William I'Anson of Highfield.— Licensed Victuallers , Gazette.