view raw text
EARL OF COVENTRYS DEATH Passing of One of Englands Most Famous and Notable Racing Figures. The Earl of Coventry, one of the most noted figures on the English turf, died March 13 at Croome Court, Worcestershire, England, where he had been lying seriously ill for a fortnight. His death was followed shortly by that of his widow Blanche, Countess of Coventry. She died three days later, almost to the minute, following the death of her husband. She had remained with the Earl to the end and within an hour of his death took to her bed, saying that she now had no desire to live. Double services were held at Croome Church. Born on May 9, 183S, he succeeded to the title when only five years of age, was training racehorses when he was 20, became the youngest Steward of the Jockey Club, and lived to be its oldest member. He- won a race with the first horse he ever owned Wanderer. Lord Coventry was only 25 years of age when he won his first Grand National. That was in 18G3, when Emblem carried off the great steeplechase event with George Stevens in the saddle. In the year .1864, Lord Coventry won the Cesarewitch with Thalestris, but he had his great disappointments, like everyone who has followed the great, game. He had high hopes of winning the Grand National for the third time, but this time bad luck dogged his footsteps. Chimney Sweep, which he used to declare was the best chaser he ever owned, was regarded as an almost certain winner. In galloping over the road at Liverpool, before he jumped a fence, Chimney Sweep broke a fetlock, and had to be destroyed. In more recent times, Lord Coventry owned other good winners, notably Verdict, winner of the Cambridgeshire in 1923, and the Coronation Cup in the following year, and only recently carried off the National Hunt Juvenile Steeplechase at Cheltenham with Black Minstrel, the last horse to run in his name.
