THE KING AS SPORTSMAN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 814, 11 May 1910, Page 3

THE KING AS SPORTSMAN.

Reference was made in yesterday's issue to the King's love of shooting, yachting, motoring, golfing, and i the turf. His career as a; rncohorso owner was peculiarly brilliant.. In 1894, when the victories of the King ['(then Prince of Wales) commenced to follow one another in remarkable sucI: cession, Florizel II had won five | Then came Persimmon's year, when that 1 redoubtable racer won for him the Derby, the St. Leger, and the Jockey Club Stakes, annexing in the following year the Ascot Gold Cup, while Phais earned off the One Thousand Guineas, the Newmarket Stakes, the Derby Eclipse Stakes, l and St. Leger. Out of seven starts, the late King won five races and was second once, his winnings for the season being I'over .£27,000. The Grand National Steeplechase was won for him in 1900 by. Ambush 11. - „ , i. Writing- in 1891 to Dr. Benson, Arch--1 bishop of Canterbury, in explanation of his attitude towards horse-racing, the King stated: "I have a horror of gambling, and shall always do,my best to discourage others who have an inclination for it, as I consider that gambling, like intemperance,- is one of tile greatest curses which the country could be afflicted with. Horse-racing may produce gambling or it may not, but I have always looked upon it as a manly sport, , which is popular with Englishmen of all classes —and there is no reason why it should be looked upon as a gambling transaction." After his accession to the throne the late King disposed of his stud, but still visited Epsom and Ascot for the great race meetings, and he still kept a. team of horses in training by It. Marsli at. Newmarket. During these few years his Majesty's winnings were insignificant, but in 1908 his team improved, and won nine races of the value of Then in 1909 came the most memorable year in the long history of the British Turf, when the Derby was won by a horse carrying the colours' of the reigning Sovereign. The season was crowded with incident, but there was no feature that gave such profound gratification, not only to racing tolks, but to the public at large, lis the victory of Minoru in the Derby. _ To R. Marsh the honour fell of preparing the j colt, and he also trained Persimmon and I Diamond Jubilee when they won the Blue j Ribband for his Majesty (as Prince of | Wales). The success , of. the son of Cyl- j lene and Mother Siegel was hardly anti- I cipated at the close of his two-year-old i career, as cither youngsters had bettor | credentials on form; and there doubtless | was an element of good fortune that gave i the prize to the candidate from Egerton | House. The race resulted'in one of the most exciting and closest finishes seen on Epsom Downs, and H. Jones, who got his mount home by a short head, rode one of the best races of his life in so doing. Minoru's victory gave rise to an outburst of loyal sentiment and enthusiasm such as those of Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee called forth in their years, and the fact of his Majesty again taking the greatest prize of the Turf upon his accession to the throne lent a unique and memorable distinction { to the occasion. Previous to his victory in the Derby, Minoru had won the Two Thousand Guineas, aud though he was. unable to add the St. Leger to his Derby laurels, he proved himself a gootfTmd consistent performer, his defeat on the Doncnster Town Moor being the only ono he sustained throughout the year, and ho wound up in gallant style by winning the Free Handicap at Newmarket in October. ...A notablo winnor for the King last season was Princesse do Galles, who, although not accomplishing all that- was expected of her, won the valuablo Coronation Stakes at Ascot. There were other winners, too, but the bulk of the .£20,757 down to his Majesty's name among the winuing owners was earned by tho colt and filly to whom reference has been made. For tho season of 1910 Marsh had a lot of twenty-five to prepare for the King's service.