Gentlemen Riders 



set-to from the first fence, at the Grand Military meeting held 

 at Sandown Park in March, 1906. 



The race was booked for a good thing for one of two, 

 Kirby, the mount of Captain Stacpoole, who was favourite at 

 2 to I, and Kiora, who stood at 5 to 2, ridden by Mr. C. 

 Bewicke, nephew of Captain Percy Bewicke, a horseman by no 

 means to be despised, notwithstanding his limited experience, 

 which as yet had been principally confined to the hunting- 

 field ; his famous uncle's second string, an incorrigible brute 

 named St. Medoc, being the mount of Captain Rasbotham, 

 who could do nothing with him, and who before the end of 

 his ride must sincerely have regretted his refusal of the mount 

 on Royal Blaze, which could have been his had he pleased. 

 Close up to the second Prizeman was third, ridden by his 

 owner Captain Cradock, C.B., M.V.O., who, though a veteran 

 in years, beyond riding in a few pony races in India, had never 

 until this occasion sported silk in an important steeplechase. 



As a matter of fact his horse was travelling the fastest of 

 the three at the finish, but could never quite catch the two 

 leaders. 



As it was an open secret that a contingency existed, in 

 other words that in the event of Royal Blaze winning the 

 Gold Cup a specified sum was to be paid to his late owner, 

 few were surprised when an objection to the winner was lodged 

 immediately after the race by the owner of Prince Talleyrand, 

 and it was certainly a matter of astonishment to the majority 

 that it was not sustained by the powers that be, a previous 

 winner of the Gold Cup having been disqualified for this very 

 reason, the authorities holding that a horse to whom a con- 

 tingency attached was not bond fide and tmconditionally the 

 property of the man in whose name it ran. 



On this occasion the stewards took legal advice in the 



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