This website, created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

PERSIMMON

Text copyright Valerie Martin 1999

The Prince of Wales' racehorse to be painted for posterity by Findon artist, Edwin Douglas, was a bay named Persimmon. The horse was foaled in 1893 at the royal stud at Sandringham and went on to win the Derby in 1896.

The Prince's trainer, Richard Marsh, who as a young man had enjoyed a successful career as an amateur rider, had imposing new stables in Newmarket — eminently suitable for housing royal horses. When Persimmon arrived at the yard, I understand that the stable lads called him "Percy" or "Perce". The horse grew in stature and matured in more ways than one. For instance, I think he had a tendency to lop ears — and around his eyes and muzzle there developed odd patches of lighter coat. He developed such a woolly protective winter coat that the lads said he looked like a sheep. Nevertheless, Persimmon was a big horse with a springy action, a fine neck and a bold eye; and under the saddle I would describe him as electrifying.

Disaster nearly hit Persimmon in May 1896 when he narrowly escaped being doped. One night, two of Marsh's lads went to The Bushel Inn for a swift pint and on leaving the bar were attacked by a gang of thugs. During the ensuing mêlée, the stable lad who "did" Persimmon was swiftly pulled round the corner and much to his horror was shoved up against a doorway by three ruffians. The blade of a knife glinted wickedly under the gaslight as it was held to his throat. Under duress, he accepted an envelope of narcotic to pass unnoticed into Persimmon's food — this would prevent him from winning the classic race, the Two Thousand Guineas.

As chance would have it, Persimmon missed the Two Thousand Guineas when an abscess was discovered under one of his teeth and so there was no question of his being "got at". Having recovered, he began preparatory training for the Derby. Marsh felt confident enough to invite his owner, to watch a trial race. A private moss-litter French-style gallop was prepared for the demonstration. Unfortunately, Marsh had dismissed his cook, which left no one to organise the royal luncheon. A message was sent post-haste to the Savoy Hotel in London, and a cook and bevy of waiters arrived by train in readiness for the big day. Comfortably seated in a stand specially erected for them, the Prince and Princess Alexandra, (in an elegant long grey dress), and other members of the Royal Family, watched Persimmon defeat his rivals in the Derby trial. The Prince was well pleased.

On the big day at Epsom, Persimmon won by a neck ridden by John Watts (known as Jack).   He had been born in Stockbridge in Hampshire and rode his first winner at the age of 15 in 1880.  

He approached Richard Marsh and asked for a job and Marsh, impressed by the boy's appearance and articulate manner, agreed to take him on.    He started from scratch and worked his way up to be stable jockey and winner of the Derby.    John Watts eventually retired to train at Newmarket in 1900 but died two years latter, no doubt weakened by a lifetime of wasting.

The scene on the Epsom course in 1896 was virtual hysteria because the popular racing Prince had won the Derby. It was a spectacle such as had never been seen on a racecourse. Men hurried from the stand to the enclosure, waving their hats in the air, looking to where His Royal Highness stood, pale but with a broad smile on his face. In those days, it was not uncommon for the race results to be delivered by carrier pigeon, but Persimmon's win goes down in history as the first publicly released newsreel.

Later that summer, Persimmon made his presence felt in Sussex. He appeared against a background of elegant fashion and trim green lawns among the ducal splendour of Goodwood, and won the Richmond Stakes to the value of £827.

The name of Edmund Charles Walker appears at the lower centre of the above plaque.  He enjoyed the position of Head Stud Groom at Sandringham — his title would now be "Stud Manager". 

He was in the fortunate position of being a personal friend of the Prince of Wales and he raised Persimmon from a foal.   Later he named his son Percy — after Persimmon.  Percy's godmother was Queen Alexander and his godfather was Sir Dighton Probyn.

Edmund Walker was still in the service of the royal family fifty years later — for King George VI.   Persimmon's Stud Manager died on 21st November 1941 at the age of 86 years and is buried at St. Mary Magdalene churchyard, Sandringham.

Although Persimmon's most notable wins, the Derby and the St. Leger, were achieved as a three-year old, he reached his peak as a four-year old. Having won the lucrative Eclipse Stakes he went on to show outstanding versatility by winning the Ascot Gold Cup.

He won the other major Classic, the St. Leger at Doncaster, in the autumn and later the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket. At the end of the year H.R.H.'s total prize-money amounted to over £26,000 putting him second in the league of winning owners.

Edmund Walker's daughter lived at Sandringham all her life and had in her possession Persimmon's tail.   Shortly before her death it was passed to the Sandringham Museum along with other artefacts.

Continue to read about Persimmon's day at the Derby in The Dullingham Hold-up.

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This is Findon — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.