PRINCE’S RACE IN GUARDS’ POINT-TO-POINT. A GALLANT RIDE.

THIRD, AFTER A FALL.

The Prince of Wales’s debut as a rider in a serious steeplechase, such as was the Grenadier Guards’ Point-to-point race yesterday at Warden Hill, in the Bicester country, will ever be memorable. Although now colonel of the Welsh Guards, he was qualified to take part by reason of his earlier association with the Grenadiers. But for his horse unfortunately slipping into the second fence and coming down, he must have won the Lord Manners’ Cup.

The scene was laid in a narrow strip of the Bicester country. The course was over three miles in length. The Prince was in “ratcatcher” hunting dress, wearing a check cap. Later he changed into orthodox hunting dress of pink with a high hat. The start was at Trafford Bridge. The course then followed the line of the valley. There was no set water-jump, but running along more than one fence was a ditch containing water either on the take-off or landing sides.

AN ADMIRABLE HORSEMAN

First came the Grenadier Guards’ Point-to-point for the Lord Manners’ Cup. Fortunately, the weather was fine, though dull. The first to weigh out was the Prince, who, with catch-weights at 12st-7, had to put up 2st-2 of actual deadweight.

I found his horse to be a whole-coloured bay named Pet Dog, seven years old, and a clean thoroughbred. He is a shade under 16 hands, and gave the idea of being very speedy. How unlucky he was not to bring in the Prince a gallant winner. An odd assortment of bookmakers were proclaiming their anxiety to lay 2 to 1 against Pet Dog, and so far as I could gather Lord Dalmeny, on a bobtailed chestnut heavyweight hunter named The Squire, was second favourite.

AT THE SECOND FENCE.

The Prince’s horse did not frame well at the first fence, though it was too far off to make out exactly what occurred. They had covered two or three fairly big fields when I made out Lord Dalmeny in front. Four others came along at intervals, but the Prince was not among them. I learned afterwards from his Royal Highness’s own description that at the second fence his horse slipped on taking off. The mistake brought the horse down, and his rider was bumped on the nose and upper lip. The Prince must have caught his horse instantly and remounted, for at length I made him out with now a gap of two fields separating him from Lord Dalmeny. His Royal Highness must have ridden with tremendous dash, for he proceeded to make up ground in extraordinary fashion, his horse showing great speed. The leeway, however, was too great. In the circumstances Lord Dalmeny must have won, for his horse was merely cantering in front when he got too close to the second fence from home, and came down. The mishap permitted Captain the Earl of Dalkeith to come up, and, though Lord Henry Seymour put in a great challenge across the last field and fence, he was beaten by half a length. The Prince was overhauling the leaders very rapidly, but his involuntary halt at the second fence had prevented him achieving what would have been a notable personal triumph. His Royal Highness was one of the first to congratulate the winner. Today his nose and upper lip may feel rather sore, but he will accept the damage like the very fine and lovable sportsman he is.