A TURF “CHARACTER.”

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1245, 26 February 1914, Page 11

A TURF “CHARACTER.”

The death is announced of Mr. Alfred Stedall, the London merchant and racehorse owner, whose rise to fortune is one of the romances of trade. Mr. Stedall, who was 75 years old, was actively engaged in business up to a few days before his death, and was the founder and chairman of directors of Messrs. A. Stedall and Co., mantle and costume manufacturers. . At the age of 15 he was a junior salesman in a London mantle warehouse. He had no money, and no influence, but he had a large stock of ambition. Four years later, having saved a little money, he opened a little shop in Newington-: ause way. At his death he controlled a great wholesa’e business, and betwee i 30 and 40 retail shops. Mr. Steda 1 was one of the veterans of racin . He began to run horses before he wa s 20, and won his last race —which was also the last of the 1913 season — at the age of 75. It is a matter of calculation whether he or Lord Coventry, was the oldest owner. His Lordship won consecutive Grand Nationals in the early “ sixties ” with

Emblem and Emblematic. For a long time Mr. Stedall used the nom de course of Mr. “Cristo,” but it was in his real name that his favourite horse, and the best probably that he ever owned—First Principal—won the City and Suburban in 1902. This was a memorable triumph for South London Mr. Stedall’s residence being at Den-mark-hill, and First Principal having been reared in his paddocks there, while his jockey was the son of a Brixton omnibus driver. All the little punters in Brixton and Camberwell and round about Denmark-hill backed the winner.

Last year and the preceding year were Mr. Stedall’s best seasons, and he won nearly £lO,OOO in stakes. It pleased him immensely to speak about winning a City and Suburban with a horse “brought up within sound of Bow Bells.” He used to astonish the modern frequenters of Hyde Park with yarns of having trained horses there in his early connection with the turf. He certainly tried one in the park, an an mal called Bliss, whom he had picked up casually and very cheaply at Knightsbridge sale just before, and the police were “persuaded” to turn a blind eye on the irregularity. Bliss won a substantial race for him at Lewes. In various ways Mr. Stedall was one of the characters of the turf. His top hats and great-coats frequently excited the mirth of beholders, especiall' the coats, which usually were of material and cut “fearful and wonderful” to look at. His favourite art was music, hi£ favourite drink old port, and his after-dinner hobby billiards when staying at Newmarket. He played badly, but untiringly, and would go on till day-break at £5 a game with an antagonist against whom he stood any chance. He had an old-fashioned prejudice against motor cars. Trains and horses were good enough for him to the end. His wife died some years ago,, but he leaves a son and a daughter, both married. There can be little doubt that Mr. Stedall died a millionaire.