A number of horses, about 250, had been landed from the ship Thessalus, with a view to taking them to Dhurrumtollah, where stables were ready for them; how to get them there was a matter of speculation; it was decided a few expert Australians, with stock whips, should drive them Colonial fashion, all grouped up together, this answered admirably for some time, until one or two of the leaders took it into their heads that gas lamps were dangerous things, and galloped madly away through the streets, followed by all the rest, simply a mad galloping and hurruishing crowd of horses, a regular stampede, not a pleasant thing to find advancing towards you. They rushed with alarming clatter through the streets out into the maidan or plain, where they broke up into groups, tearing off in every direction. It took all night and part of the next day collecting the animals, who by that time had tasted enough freedom and were not sorry to be caught, but the excitement was great. One unfortunate man, who was riding home at a belated hour, meeting this charging cavalcade turned his horse’s head very wisely and was carried along with them.
Lord William was a good judge of a horse and understood their training, he was therefore often asked for his advice, and if anyone had a good horse they wished to sell they usually let Lord William have a look at it. One day in Calcutta, Mr. John Ralli sent him for trial a very fine fast trotting mare to look at; his lordship decided to buy her. The same evening he went for a “walk round” at Belvedere and saw there a Mr. S. (we will say) and his very handsome wife walking arm-in-arm. There was a very strong likeness between Mr. Ralli and Mr. S., and as Lord William passed, mistaking him for Mr. Ralli, he gave a little pinch whispering, “She’s a ripper.” Mr. S. immediately replied, “You’re a scoundrel, sir!” Lord William was very indignant and thought the man had gone mad, as, of course, he was referring to Mr. John Ralli’s fast trotting mare. Mr. S. was also angry, thinking Lord William referred to his wife. Rather a funny story of mistaken identity.
Lord William was with the Viceroy on the memorable occasion when touring a certain district where the natives had come to the conclusion that, under the new Viceroy’s rule, they were to have a free run among the scattered European residents, where several ladies were living, and when he arrived the said scattered Europeans were not inclined to give his Excellency a favourable reception! This episode was referred to as the “White Mutiny.”
The Autumn of 1882 was not a very lucky one from the racing point of view. Both the Dehra and Umballa meetings were poor and temporarily somewhat out of favour. The winter of 1882-3 was not much better, at Calcutta Lord William certainly won a race with Fariz and another with Mooltan, and he won a match five hundred rupees a side, riding his Premier against Captain Webb, on Mr. Godjack’s Skirmishe.
In May came the news of his partner’s death, poor Mr. Monty Stewart, who had gone home sick. In consequence of this, all the horses were put up for sale, the majority being bought by the Sporting Maharajah of Jodhpore.
Lord William not being able to afford racing alone, on the lines he aspired to, now looked round for another partner, and before long he and the young and rich Maharajah of Durbangah came to an arrangement. The Rajah had acquired a taste for racing from Major Ben Roberts, who had just left India to take up some appointment in England. So now began another partnership, and more money was forthcoming to purchase valuable horses. Ryder was once more sent to England to see what he could find, Lord William also went on short leave and returned with a sprinter named Reputation, Father Prout and Little Charlie. £2000 was given for Reputation, and before leaving for India he won the Egremont Plate of £300 and the Glasgow Plate £200, but he was a nervous horse, did not travel well, was easily thrown off his oats and did no good in India where the ground was too hard for him, which was disappointing, for in the Egremont Plate before leaving England when being ridden by “Archer” he gave 16lbs. to Laceman and 27lbs. to Hornpipe, who were the same age, yet won easily.
Reputation was a smart good-looking horse, bought from a solicitor I believe named Tidy, whom it may be remembered Lord Marcus once tackled in his office, ending in fisticuffs and police court proceedings.
On May 10th, 1883, a great match was arranged between Lord William and Mr. Leopold de Rothschild: the former backing his Reputation against the latter’s Brag. Archer rode for Lord William and Fordham for Mr. Rothschild. The race was run at the Newmarket Spring meeting, 200 sovereigns a side T.Y.C. Matches were quite a fashionable feature of the sport at this period and were generally arranged overnight and a surprise addition to the day’s racing.
The excitement was great over this race, many were interested in it, amongst others the Prince of Wales, Sir J. Astley, Lord Hartington (afterwards Duke of Devonshire) and many more. Crowds flocked to see the race run and there was a good deal of money on it. The horses ran close together most of the course, it was most thrilling, but eventually Brag gained the advantage about a hundred yards from home, winning cleverly by a neck. Perhaps for the benefit of those who are not race-goers I ought to explain T.Y.C. means the two year old course at Newmarket which is five furlongs and 140 yards. This course was a long way from the stand; there were more winning-posts in those days than there are now. It was customary for people to hack over to the different places to see the finish. Brag had the advantage in weight as Reputation had to give him 14lbs., which, in the opinion of many people who were in a position to judge, was considered too much to ask. Perhaps Lord William was not as experienced at that time as he was later in that delicate game of matching: considerable knowledge being necessary to bring it off successfully.
A number of people will not forget that day easily, a good deal of money changed hands over the race.