A Royal Sportsman.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 July 1910, Page 4

A Royal Sportsman.

1 A.VKCDOTKS OF TIIK LATE KING. I here is a legend extant of an Oiit-iit:tl {).;*. iitate who could not understand wh t v tlio King of England di:l n it win every race in which be h:ttl a h.*>rst* engaged. Tfie story is purely aprocryphal, hut jiu .fciii.gl.ish wiil.-r recalls it in order to (Miijiliii.si.se the sportsmanship of the late Kin?; Jvdiward, who, despite a succession 0! had years, lunttil he wii.s reward; l :! v.'itli 11 Derby winner. He was a splendid loser and am equally splendid winner, calm and iiiipiiff!r!l hv adversity and never unduly elate!, iiy success. Ho was cheery and sober under whatever fortune brought ltiin. It was these sportsmanlike (| 11alitio.s that endeared him more than Anything ol.so to hi»s sitlj.jcct.s, Turf history will always hold a place for tlio storv of the win of tin- King's filly Witch of the Air at Ivem pton. In .the full knowledge tint Ids end was drawing near, the King insisted on her fulfilling her engagement, his Majesty exhib'ting therein the same thought! u'!upss that mado iliim express again and again a desire thait 110 happenn|g to himsc'f should interfere -with t• h> amuse nvnt of his people. Another example of this unselfishness "iny he cite]. When he observed that some foolhardy individuals were trying to pluck hairs from the tail of his Den'iv winner Minoru as the muse was h:'ing led in through a cheering multitude, his Majesty's pleasure was turned to a,nxiotv, and 10 exclaimed, "Don't- let 'nrople horse, please, or ho will kick. Although wild stories have been told on occasion of tlio extent (r 'the late Kings betting transactions, it is stated by a. special cor-n;.-pnndciit of the Standard that his •Majesty re-I ly betted very little. He neither encouraged nor countenanced gambling. An enormous! v weal; iy young patrician, informal h 1 rinnnn 16 t , ,10n "' as ) r tl'«t"-lie h.id CIO 000 on a horse trf his own. 1 An ' l 0 „ H ' 1,n 1 t | R , tlie value of your >„k„: tl, ? IW "Al,oi,t >^ l,r 1 vowil Highness," was the reply. The Prince nodded. A poor pur.».i for such a treasure " lie said; "ytn are taking tlio same !'" k :IS "'"ii wilio sends a fortune hv post and forgets to lick tho flap . 11 n ' (,|| veih >pe. " But my horse ' is •'« eertaintv, sir," protested the J young j,limp.. Tho Prince smiled 1 ■""d P'uuited to the line of bookmak- 1 era shouting the odds. "These gen- 1 t.emcu hav- orown rich on contain- 1 ties he -.yi a ,id the crestfallen 1 youth admitted the force of the J caiisti<-_ remark when his "certain- i t.v finished " poor third. "t