OUR BEST SPORTSMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 138, 10 July 1909, Page 4

OUR BEST SPORTSMAN.

ALL ABOUT HIS MAJESTY'S HOUSES. When Minora dashed past the win-ning-post, and added the famous classic race known as the Two Thousand Uuineas to His Majesty's racing account, he also brougni the total sum won at rating by the King to wed over £140,000; and with more to follow, we hope, during the present year (says a Home pa : per).

The result of the Two Thousand Guineas was to make His Majesty's horse favorite tor the greatest of all races—the Derby. Very few men own a Derby winner, and fewer can boast of possessing the tavoritc for the historic contest twice. Bui lvmg Edward lias gained both distinctions.

The lving raced unsuccessfully for several years before his luck changed, and many another owner would have given up in despair after such a long period of failure. But Persimmon atoned for all past reverses. It was His Majesty's first really great horse, and placed to the then Prince of 'Wales' credit the Derby, the Lcger, and the Jockey Club Sokes'.

These races were worth in the aggregaie i 1D,510, and, with prizes won by running second and third, brought the winnings of His Majesty for the racing reason of 1800 to £20,000. DIAMOND JUBILEE'S QUINTETTE. The year following his grand series of triumphs Persimmon against distinguished hjmself, winning the Eclipse Stakes, and being the principal factor in bringing the Prince's winnings to over £15,000. A -few lean years' followed Persimmon into the stud. Then another 1 great horse appeared on the scene. This was Diamond Jubilee, and although he did not prove anything like such a favorite as Persimmon, yet he won more races than the hero of 1896.

Diamond Jubilee was to have been ridden by Mwnington Cannon. For some unaccountable reason he took a violent dislike to the jockey, and lie was an animal of such bad temper that it was deemed inadvisable for Mornington to take him in charge. ■ The trainer reported that only one person could manage Diamond Jubilee, and this happened to be a lad named Herbert Jones, then totally unknown to fame. With some trepidation the trainer gave Jones the mount, and how well the jockey justified the trust is well known now. It is curious that one of the most celebrated jockeys of today should owe his chance to the preference of a racehorse for him. Evidently Diamond Jubilee knew a first-class jockey when he saw one! In 1000 the Royal horse won the Two Thousand Guineas, Newmarket Stakes, Derby, Eclipse Stakes, and St. Leger—five raceß worth £27,985 in stakes, and constituting 1900 His Majesty's record vcar on the Turf.

Richard Mars'h has been His Majesty's trainer for many years, but the supreme control of the Royal stables is centred in Lord Marcus Bcresford, brother of Lord Charles Bere6ford.

An astonishing number of winners have been sired by Persimmon. During the last four years the offspring of this mighty hors'e have won between them close on £BO,OOO worth of races—a splendid tribute to an animal for which His Majesty has an abiding affection. It is the King' 6 custom to give a banquet on Derby night, at which he proposes the toast of the owner of the winner. On two occasions he lias had to delegate ithe duty to others, because he was the winning owner himself, and everybody hopes that this year for the third tike he may have to ask somaone else to propose the principal toast.