Horses in War and Piece Horses in War and Piece | Page 32

The tankard was presented by Queen
Victoria to the winner of the Queen’s
Cup competition in Ascot, Eltham,
owned by William Robinson, on 13th
June 1865. The Queen’s Cup, also known
as the Gold Vase, is one of Britain’s most
prestigious races founded in 1838. Its
original trophy was a gold vase donated
by Queen Victoria.
The Times reported on the race as
follows, «Breeze, owned by Baron
Rothschild, was first out: Eltham rushed
past him and carried on running round
the top turn, when Adams indulged
him with a pull, and Breeze was, in
consequence, left in the lead, which
carried on into the Swinley Mile
Bottom. On reaching the milepost,
the pair closed and raced together to
the road, where the Baron’s filly drew
slightly away, and came into the straight
half a length in advance of the favourite,
the pair having the race to themselves
at the distance... within a stride or two
of the chair (Eltham) came with a rush,
and finished a splendid race with a dead
heat».
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