THE PRINCE OF WALES AS A JOCKEY.

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 2321, 25 August 1898, Page 36

THE PRINCE OF WALES AS A JOCKEY.

"Where this came from originally I do not know. I found it in the Sporting RcA'iew : — How many know that the Prince of Wales has ridden in and won a horse race? Not one in a hundred thousand has ever heard of such an extraordinary event, yet it is an absolute fact. Thirty-six yeard ago the Prince was at the Curragh — the Newmarket training quarters of Ireland — and there lie may be said to have graduated in the Sport of Kings, as at the Military meeting a horse named Rupee made his debut — the fir.it actual racer he owned. The distance of the race was one mile and a-half, and the value of the stake £100. Rupee was, entered and ran in the assumed name of " Captain Melville," and was ridden by that gentleman. There was a considerable amount of friendly rivalry as to which horse would prove the victor. The flag foil to a grand start, and the spectators saw that Rupee was being handled in a patient and masterly manner, and, after a tremendously exciting race, he just managed to squeeze home; but it was entirely owing to the herculean efforts of his jockey, who rode with marvellous judgment, and got the best of a tight finish. Rupee was owned and ridden by the Prince of n ales, whose colovirs in this race were not the present familiar royal ones of "purple, gold braid, scarlet sleeves, and black velvet cap, with gold fringe," but "all white." There is no doubt that this gratifying initial success went a longway towards making him such a great turf enthusiast.