DEATH OF SCEPTRE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1926, Page 3

DEATH OF SCEPTRE

FAMOUS RACING MARE. LONDON, February 6. The famous racing mare. Sceptre, died at Lord Glniielly’s stud. aged twenty-seven years. Sceptre, by Persimmon from Ornament, was one of the most famous mares associated with the turf in England. She first attracted attention as a yearling, when she was sold at auction. being purchased for 10.000 guineas by Mr R. Sievier. in whose colours she did most of her racing. As a two-year-old she started three times, winning the Woodeote Stakes at Epsom and'the July Stakes at Newmarket and finishing third in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. She started her three-year-old career by tilling second place in the Lincolnshire Handicap, alter which she won the Iwo I housnud Guineas (Pistol and Aid Patrick in the places) and One Thousand Guineas. She was fourth in the Derby, won by Aid Patrick. Inn won the Oaks. Another unplaced performance in the Coronation Cup at Ascot, was followed by a win in the St. James Palace Stakes

the following day. At Goodwood she dead-heated for second place in the Sussex Stakes and won the Nassau Stakes. She won the St Leger, hut two days later, with longs odds laid on her, she was unaccountably beaten in the Park Hill Stakes, over the same course. As a four-year-old she was unplaced in the Lincolnshire Handicap. Then she won the Hardwick© Stakes at Ascot. Her next appearance was in the Eclipse Stakes, in which Aid Patrick beat her. She wound up the season with four wins—Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket. Duke ot York Stakes at Kempton Park. Champion Stakes anti Limekiln Stakes, both at Newmarket. During that season Sceptre had been sold to Sir William Bass for £25,000. As a five-vear-old she ran three times, finishing second to Zinfandel ill the Coronation Cup at Epsome. third to Throwaway and Zinfandel in the Ascot Gold Cup and third to Rock Sand and Santry in the Hardwick© Stakes on the same course. She was then retired to the stud, wlieie she failed to produce anything approaching her own class. Some of her daughters, however, have bred on and the blood of the famous mare is to be found in more than one notable performer of recent years.