Englands Classic Cup Race, Daily Racing Form, 1901-09-07

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ENGLANDS CLASSIC CUP RACE. August 1 the Goodwood Cup of 0,000, for thres-year-olds and upward, at two mUes and a half, was the feature of the meeting at Goodwood and resulted in the victory of Arthur James three-year-old bay colt Fortunatus, by St. FruBquin Lucky Lady, ridden by Danny Maher. Lord Ellesmeres four-year-old chestnut filly Inquisitive, b Hampton None the Wiser, with J.H. Martin up, was second, and Sir E. Cassels three year old bay filly Flenr dEte, by Bt. Florian Summersday tiuchanan, third. There were five starters and it was bull-dog pluck alone that enabled him to win this time honored trophy, and so hopelessly did ha appear beaten leBj than half a mile from home that as much as 10 to 1 was laid against him. That at the finish he should under these circumstances have been an easy winner is extraordinary, thiB making the third good race he has won this year without being beaten. He furnishes another illustration of the argument that there are plenty of long distance runners in training if there were more races to run them in and trainers took more pains in finding out the merits of the animal with regard to Btamina. Goodwood having as a race meeting this year completed its century of birthdayB, a brief memorial of the past in the shape of a glance through the annals of the above once great race set ma a by-no-means uninteresting subject, and a fitting period to make it. Inaugurated in 1812, on the fifth Duke of Richmonds then Lord March coming of age, the Gold Cup, as it was then called, became an "annual" under the title of the Goodwood Cup in 1825. Up to that year the meeting was more of a Hunt Club character, and had so existed for some twenty odd years. In 1819 the fourth Duke died, and at once, on taking the leins, his successor proceeded to lay out a large sum of money in improving the course and raising the tone and quality of the meeting. In 1829 and 1830 the royal colors were here carried to victory by the famous mare Fleur-de-Lis, on the firet occasion representing the ownership of King George IV. and on the second of King William IV., who had succeeded to the throne only a few weeks before. In this year, 1830, Zinganee and The Colonel, also carrying the royal colors, finished second and third, His Majesty, when asked by the trainer which he Bhould run, having, in nautical phrase, replied: "Start the whole fleet." The winner was appropriately ridden by a jockey named Nelson. From this time a succession of grand animals can be found in the list of winners of this fam ous prize. Priam won in two successive years for Lord Chesterfield, as, singularly enough, had the half dozen previous winners for Lord Egremont, the Duke of Richmond, and the King respectively, and as did Hornsea and Carew again for Lord Chesterfield, Harkaway for Mr. Ferguson, and Charles XII. for Mr. Johnstone in the next ten years. Glencoe, sire ot tbe renowned Pocahontas, won in 1834, Rockingham a St. Legor winner and Hornsea preceding the mighty Harkaway, who won in two successive years, 1838-39, under big weights, like Charles XII., in 1841-42, who carried 8 st. 13 lb. and 9 st. 9 lb. respectively. In the second year of the latters enccess, HylluB, "had run second after a tremendous race, waB then and there matched for 1,000 against Charles XII., receiving 5.b, to run at the same meeting. One of the grandest races ever run was the result, and again did the game and lion-hearted Charles win by a head. Both were animals of the highest merit, and even the mighty Harkaway, whj had but just retired from rackg, was scarcely thought their superior. This, however, he no doubt was; no mean authority, who died this year, aged 91, poor old Joe OBborne, having often to the writer pro nounced Harkaway to have been the greatest racehorse the world ever saw. As he had been moving amongst the beBt of English bloodstock for three quarters of a century, "Beacon" was unquestionably quite good enough to speak after. Hjllus, who belonged to the owner of Lean-der, "the other four-year-old" cf the following years Derby, won the Goodwood Cop in 1813, with 9st 7lb, in a field of thirteen, which affords a still, further idea of his quality. In fact, in Fleur-de Lis, Priam, Glencoe, Rockingham, Harkaway, Charles XII., and Hjllus, the record of thiB event stands superior to all others in the opening years of its lengthened career. At this period the fifth Duke of Richmond, to whom all was thus far dae, received a most important ally and confederate in Lord George Bentinck, who joint d forces in the early forties. Born in the same year as the Goodwood meeting itself, 1802, his lordship was in his prime when he resolved to make thiB tbe great race -meeting and fathionable reunion of the season. This he forthwith did, sparing neitner labor nor expanse, and 1815 saw him well repaid by winning a big stake on his mare Miss Eiis, who won both- Stakes and Cnp. From 1811 to 1816, when, for 10,000 sovereigns, he sold upward of one hundred animals, one of which proved worth five times the amount, Lord George was the heart and soal of this ever glorious meeting. For upward of half a century, indeed, well nigh three-quarters, has it been the final rendezvous of the season with the fashionable world, who meet here ere scattering to all points of the compass. The famous Alice Hawthorne won this world-renowned prize in 1814, Miss Elis in 1845, and Grimston in 1816. The last named belonged to an Irish adventurer, named OBrien, who won the Stakes also this same year with Jonathan Wild. Tnia piece of good fortune bo overcome the usual hauteur of Lord George Bentinck as to cause the latter to be Been subsequently pacing the lawn arm in arm with this lncky owner, to the postive bewilderment of those wao knew tbe character of the most arrogant and imperious of noblemen. 1847 saw the return to the Turf at this meeting of young John Day, as he then was, after a two years "retirement." He rode the Danebury cup champion, Hero, and won after a close race with the three year-old, Eryx. The excitement over thiB success was beyond description, both horse and ridr, especially the latter on this occasion, being exceedingly popular. Old John Day, the father, threw Jiis hat right away, and took by the hips no less a parsonage than the elegant Lord Chesterfield, and lifted him off his feet. The good tempered and affable nobleman only laughed, where death would almost have been the penalty had the same liberty been taken, with say, Lord Gaorge Bentinck. Yet would not the sixth Lord Chesterfield have taken the arm of an OBrien. A seriea of other good animals followed, winners cf this race, in Van Tromp, Canezou, Nancy, Kingston, Virago, Monarque, Sauntarer, Promised Land, Tim Whiffler, Ely, Flageolet, Don-caster, Hampton, Kincsem, insonomy and St, Simon. Since the latters year, 1881. parhaps the less said about the type of winner of this event the better. The race has, in fact, gone utterly to the bad, nor can the increased value of the stake improve matters, since we have not now the horseB the contest demands. The hundredth birthday of this glorious meeting has now passed says the English scribe. Free Lance, for three-quarters of which period has this race afforded a chief item, for three decades the chief, of the annual program. Let ub tben, try and cultivate sach animals as those here mentioned as being in the list of its winners and not allow so grand a landmark to disappear.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1901090701/drf1901090701_3_2
Local Identifier: drf1901090701_3_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800