Gentlemen Riders 



MAJOR HUGHES ONSLOW 



Of the military men riding in recent years, not one, so far as 

 we are aware, can boast of a career in the saddle extending 

 over so long a period, and certainly not one more successful 

 than that of the gallant officer who forms the subject of this 

 chapter. 



Educated at Eton and Sandhurst, Major Hughes Onslow 

 made his dibiU as a gentleman rider exactly twenty-seven 

 years ago, at the Melton meeting of 1882, on which occasion 

 he won two steeplechases during the afternoon. Soon after 

 that he went to India with his regiment, and the following 

 winter we find him winning the Indian Grand Military 

 Steeplechase at Umballa, the most important event which 

 he had taken part in as yet. It would have been odd 

 indeed had a rider of such ability in the saddle as the subject 

 of our sketch failed to make his mark in the Grand Military, 

 at one time or another, and that these expectations were 

 realised is proved by the fact that out of his four rides in the 

 race for the Gold Cup, he won it three times, viz. on Mr. H. T. 

 Fenwick's Bertha (4 yrs., 11 st.) in 1888, on Major Fenwick's 

 County Council (a., 11 st. 7 lbs.) in 1898, on Major Loder's 

 Marpessa in 1903, and was second on Covert Hack in 1899, on 

 each occasion at Sandown Park. 



Besides riding many other winners at the principal meetings 

 in Ireland at various times. Major Hughes Onslow has had 

 more than his share of luck at Punchestown, he having won 

 the Conyngham Cup on no fewer than three occasions, viz. in 

 1899, 1 90 1, and 1903, each time on Covert Hack belonging to 

 Major Eustace Loder. Covert Hack, who was certainly one of 



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