King Edward at the Race Track, Daily Racing Form, 1908-01-31

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■ • I KING EDWARD AT THE RACE TRACK. What make-- the king a model sportsman in everybodys .yes. and what wouid make him a great in-flaeaec in the racing worlel if ne were just a Norfolk country gentleman, is the- thoroughly "human" ecu ire ot hi-, iniere-t in racing. He knows a good j horse- when lie sies it. is frankly delighted at having one of his own, is frankly disappointed when j some highly-bred youngster turns out to be worthless, and when he goes to a race meiting. gives t himself 1111 to tin- afternoons business with an enjoyment which might infect the most sated spectator. . Ieople realize this instinctively and like to realize it: and a man who ■would no more have dariil to congratulate the late Duke of Westminster on winning the- Derby that he would have chafed tie- Czar of Russia about having a new baby, cheers with warm personal deliuht when the king wins a race. Ihe conversation at the small royal lunch parties at Newmarket and Ooodwood circles-round the racing of the afternoon very tninli as it does in the grandstand luncheon rooms a few yards away, and as Ihe king walks down the steps to his seat afterward with a cigar in his mouth he is mostly undoing the strap of his race glasses anil preparing to criticize the horses wich are cantering down to the post for the next race. Newly elected members of the Jockey Club stands at N. w market to which enelosure anybody may be elected who is proposed and seconded by members of the Jockey Club itselfi. have more than once told of their surprise when coming in or out of tiie Birdcage or standing about in some stairway or passage at hearing a nimniuted wore! id apology from someone and finding that the king was standing close by thiui waiting to come past. Then is no place in Furope whe-re His majesty lives so entirely at ease ami allheal eereaaaay as at Newmarket. From his rooms in the- Jockey Club he rides or drives out at the usual early morning hour to see the gallops on the Heath or Bury Hill -gallops which begin in summer tihic at four or live in the morning anil are mostly all over soon after eighl. With two or three fihnds he drives 11 j to the race course just b.f..ie- tin- first race, arahta ■beat freely. 1 hat thai wilh eneiless frienels in Hie stands: is occasionally to be seen ill diep conversation with Richard Marsh, who trains his horses, or Herbert Jones, the chief stable jockey, and siniies courteously at the not infroepienl oe-caslons when some lady says exe-iteelly to her companions. "Is the king here? Do show 1111? the king if vou can." and her companion, with a nervous "sh-h-h." glances redfaccd and aieologe-ti caily at a gentleman in a brown morning suit and brown bowler hat. who is standing two yards away. In the evening the king nearly always dines out. either with sir Brant Oaaaei at Meaitea Paaaeche, or with Mr. I.i-opolel de Redhsehild at Palace House.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1908013101/drf1908013101_1_9
Local Identifier: drf1908013101_1_9
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800