LOOKING BACK: Newmarket and racing ... King Edward VII's other love affair
LIKE many royals before him, Edward VII enjoyed spending time in Newmarket, having both great friends in the town and a string of horses in training.
Born at exactly 10:48am on November 9, 1841 in Buckingham Palace, Edward always had aspirations of a military career.
But Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, his parents, had forbidden him to take part in such any such engagements and it was because of this that he could enjoy the pleasures of a frivolent social life.
Edward enjoyed spending time at Sandringham and subsequently he visited Newmarket, thoroughly at home with the aristocratic racing set.
His great friends included Sir Frederick Johnstone and Henry Chaplin, two rich young men who became successful racehorse owners, who he had met at his university days at Oxford.
With no official residence in Newmarket after the old Royal Palace was put up for sale by Victoria in 1850, Edward used his perogative as a member and stayed at The Jockey Club.
A suite of rooms overlooking the gardens was put aside for him and a special entrance was constructed at the side, to give him private access.
After dinner he would often enjoy a game of cards in the club's card room, where members were once required to supply their own candles for the silver holders in the corners of each table.
Edward was a hugely popular figure and hundreds would flock to Palace House to catch a glimpse of the superstar prince as he made his way up the mansion's steps to dine with Leopold de Rothschild.
Edward, or 'Bertie' as he was known to his family and friends, was a racing fanatic and, despite the less-than-approving opinions of Queen Victoria, he began dabbling with a jump horses at Epsom.
He registered his colours in 1875.However, it was under the guidance of his friend Sir Frederick, that he developed his interests but successes came few and far between at first.
The royal horses were trained at Kingsclere, Berkshire, by John Porter, where Lord Marcus Beresford, ex member of the 7th Hussars and 1875 champion in the Grand Military Chase, was stud manager.
It was Porter who persuaded Edward to buy the mare Perdita II for 900 in the mid-1880s.
She bred Florizel II, Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee, which won respectively, 7,800, 34,000 and 29,000.
As the Prince's luck turned he decided to move his horses to trainer Richard Marsh at Egerton House in Newmarket, because the town was closer to Sandringham.
In 1896 Persimmon won the Derby and later the Gold Cup, St Leger and Eclipse Stakes. and in 1900, Diamond Jubilee won the Triple Crown.
When Queen Victoria died on January, 22, 1901, Edward became King of the United Kingdom, the Emperor of India and, in an innovation, King of the British Dominions.
As king, Edward's main interests lay in the fields of foreign affairs, naval and military matters.
He was fluent in French and German and made a number of visits abroad, regularly holidaying in Biarritz, South-Eastern France and Marienbad, Czech Republic.
In spring 1903 as the guest of President mile Loubet, he visited France and, following a visit to the Pope in Rome, he helped create the atmosphere for the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale, an agreement with the aim of ruling out any future war between the two countries.
He almost gave up his interests in racing, had it not have been for his pursuit of popular beauty, Lillie Langtry, the British actress, whom he had met at a dinner party hosted by friend, Sir Allen Young, the English mariner and explorer.
Miss Langtry, who had a home at Regal Lodge in Kentford, persuaded him to continue his racing interests.
Upon his death on May 20, 1910, Edward was interred at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Edward's friend Ernest Cassel had owned a prominent house in Newmarket High Street.
It stood opposite The Jockey Club and was originally known as Grafton House, although it is somewhat disputed whether the property was ever used by the King.
Grafton House was later demolished to make way for the King Edward VII Memorial Hall and gardens, a gift to the people of Newmarket from Cassel, in memory of his royal friend.
The hall, which opened in 1914. is currently occupied by Newmarket Town Council, which has plans for a 1.2 million refurbishment by 2011.
The work should ensure that the building stands for future generations, a fitting tribute to a sporting royal, who held a special place in his heart for both Newmarket and horseracing.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Newmarket
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
