A HISTORY OF DORSET 



of John Walters, one of three brothers, all trainers, 

 well known about 1840. He began riding in 

 pony and galloway races when ten or eleven years 

 ofage. Afterthat he rode under Rules of Racing 

 and later on was a well-known steeplechase rider 

 under National Hunt Rules. In 1863 he com- 

 menced as private trainer to Sir C. Rushout, 

 near Moreton in the Marsh, moving afterwards to 

 Earls Croome, thence to Wroughton, and finally 

 coming to Pimperne in 1885. Among the best 

 horses trained at Pimperne were Goldseeker and 

 Tyrant, which between 1886 and 1890 won 

 between them the following races : — The Don- 

 caster Welter Plate, the Cleveland Handicap, 

 and the Portland Plate at Doncaster ; the Septem- 

 ber Handicap at Manchester; the City and Subur- 

 ban ; the Welter Handicap at Newmarket ; the 

 Chester Cup and the Great Cheshire Handicap ; 

 the Great Northern Handicap at York ; and the 

 DoncasterSpring Handicap. Amongother winners 

 trained by Mr. Walters the best have been Clarion, 

 Monsieur, Goodlake, Hibernian, Bonny Kate, 

 Mountain Knight, Bobbie Burns, and Satyrica. 



It would be impossible to find a healthier spot 

 for horses, or a more perfect training ground, 

 than this on the old Blandford racecourse, with 

 distances to suit preparation for all races. Beau- 

 tiful firm and springy turf on a good subsoil 

 covers the whole ; and nicely undulating downs 



abound. Above all its recommendation is its 

 isolation, for here are no crowds, no jostling, no 

 touts to worry the trainer in his trials, the horses 

 run no risks, and have every opportunity for good 

 work without hindrance. 



A notable stud farm is situated at The Knoll, 

 Corfe Mullen, where with excellent paddocks 

 and every modern convenience Captain H. Y. Mills 

 (late 6th Inniskilling Dragoons) takes in about 

 thirty-seven mares for breeding purposes. A- 

 mongst these mares is Concussion, dam of Ham- 

 merkop, Sirenia, and Water Chute. Hammerkop 

 won the Cesarewitch in 1905, and the Alex- 

 andra Cup at Ascot in 1905 and 1906. Sirenia 

 won the Duke of York Stakes, the Kempton 

 Jubilee in 1900, and in Ireland was unbeaten as 

 a two-year-old. Another mare in the paddocks is 

 Clarehaven, winner of the Cesarewitch in 1900, 

 and here may be seen many other winning mares. 



Eager by Enthusiast — Greeba stands at The 

 Knoll, one of the most popular horses that 

 ever ran, and the champion sprinter of his time. 

 Although no classic race fell to his lot, he won 

 no less than ^Ti 5,000 in stakes and won a good 

 race every time he appeared at Ascot. 



Mr. William Martin of Moor Court has also 

 bred a few useful thoroughbreds at his farm near 

 Bailey Gate, but they have always been sold 

 before entering upon their racing career. 



POLO 



Polo, as a county game in Dorset, dates from 

 the year 1900, when the Blackmore Vale Polo 

 Club was formed, and this club now is admitted 

 by all to be the leading country club of the day. 

 The president is Major Earl Cairns, the hon. 

 secretary and treasurer H. E. Lambe, esq., 

 Stalbridge, and the assistant hon. secretary the 

 Hon. L. Lambert, Milborne Port. 



In 1907 there were thirty playing and seventy- 

 five non-playing members ; of the former the 

 best known are perhaps Captain Phipps Hornby 

 (late of the Rifle Brigade), Colonel Duth (late 

 of the 8th Hussar Team), Captain A. Courage 

 (of the great 15th Hussar Team), Mr. J. Har- 

 greaves (of the Freebooters Team), and the Hon. 

 H. Grosvenor (late of the 14th Hussars). 



This is the only county club which can 

 boast four grounds — three boarded and one un- 

 boarded — all situated some three miles from 

 Sherborne. 



Polo commences on i March, and ends on 

 31 August. About seventy days' polo are played 

 on the grounds each season, with two annual 

 tournaments. 



In 1904 the club won the 'County Cup' 

 after having been runners up for the two preced- 

 ing years. In 1905 and 1 906 the team were 

 runners up at Ranelagh for the County Clubs 

 Junior Championship, which was instituted 

 by the Blackmore Vale Polo Club and was 

 afterwards taken over by the County Polo 

 Association. 



SHOOTING 



We have encountered many difficulties in 

 compiling the following short account of shooting 

 in Dorset. Of late years nearly all the shootings 

 have been let to newcomers, and now very few 

 landlords keep them in their own hands. From 

 these latter only statistics have been obtained ; 

 it has been found impossible to get returns from 

 the present shooting tenants. 



In old days there certainly was not anything 

 like the amount of what may be termed artificial 



game — that is to say, home-reared pheasants, 

 partridges, and wild duck ; but the shooting was 

 of a more sporting character when the old- 

 fashioned country squire enjoyed moderate days 

 with his neighbours who supported and partici- 

 pated in other sports as well. 



Dorset is a county eminently suitable by 

 nature for almost every variety of bird and 

 animal, and in every part of it a varied bag may 

 be had. There are good coverts of all sizes for 



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