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The large bronze statue of a horse
which greets visitors to Dalmeny House is a portrait of King
Tom, the foundation stallion of Baron
Meyer de Rothschild's Mentmore stud. Racing was close
to the Baron's heart and he enjoyed remarkable success: he
won the Derby, the 1000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St. Leger
all in one year, 1871.
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The 5th
Earl of Rosebery had a great love of racing, starting
when he was an undergraduate at Oxford. During fifty years
of ownership his rose-and-primrose colours won every "Classic",
including three Derbys - the most popular of which was in
1894, when he was Prime Minister. There are portraits at Dalmeny
of his best-known horses as well as the trainers and jockeys
who made his success possible.
The 6th Earl inherited his father's
love of racing and breeding horses and eventually won over
seven hundred races, including five "Classics".
His best-known horse was Blue Peter, who won the Derby and
2000 Guineas in 1939, only to be thwarted in his attempt at
the Triple Crown by the outbreak of War. The 6th Earl's sitting
room is preserved as it was at the time of his death in 1974,
with the year's list of mares, expected foals and yearlings
standing by his desk. Devotees of racing will note many reminders
of this enthralling sport.
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