THE DULLINGHAM HOLD UP

Copyright Valerie Martin 2000

In 1895 a two-year-old appeared on the racing scene, he was named Persimmon and was owned by Queen Victoria's son, the Prince of Wales. Edwin was asked to paint the horse the following year after his great race, the Derby.

Edwin nearly lost the royal commission when Persimmon himself almost missed attending the Derby on the 3rd June 1896.

His trainer, Richard Marsh, had arranged for the horse to travel to the Epsom racecourse, home of the Derby, by train on Derby Day. It was intended that a stable lad was to walk the horse through the country lanes to Dullingham Station which was a country halt some five miles on the London side of Newmarket, (the walking of horses to the races was not an uncommon occurrence in those days). For some unknown reason Persimmon took an instant dislike to the box cars that came in alongside the railway platform at the station and he absolutely refused to enter his box. Again and again the lad patiently walked him in a circle and attempted another approach, talking quietly to the horse, but each time Persimmon stopped short of the train, looked around, decided to be awkward, braced himself and threatened to rear up.

Richard Marsh, dressed for Derby Day in his new bowler hat and smart tweed suit, became increasingly agitated and perspired profusely. Two racehorse-special trains from Newmarket pulled into the station and were loaded and pulled out again — without Persimmon.

The third and last horse-special of the day drew up. Still Persimmon refused. In desperation, Richard Marsh doffed his bowler and enlisted the help of a muscular porter and the two men tried to join hands behind Persimmon's hindquarters so that they could gently guide him towards the wagon. Meanwhile, the stable lad gave a constant pull from the horse's head. Naturally, Persimmon did not think much of this arrangement and retreated at speed, the burly porter narrowly escaped being trampled and the poor man withdrew with fright.

By now a large crowd of on-lookers had gathered, one or two of them openly contemptuous with their comments. Richard Marsh shouted —

This promptly sorted out the men from the boys. About ten true and strong men smartly stepped out and with five or so joining together on either side they heaved on a couple of short lengths of rope, and bodily lifted Persimmon through the doorway of his box. Persimmon looked round with great surprise to find himself in his box —

"What's all the fuss about" he seemed to say as he immediately relaxed and tucked into the oats with which his stable lad had tried to lure him for the past hour.

Richard Marsh was in such an agitated state following the morning's fiasco that he decided to travel the whole way in the horsebox in lieu of his First Class seat reserved for him — to prevent any further disasters.

It is wondered how Persimmon managed to go on to win his race by a neck after his morning's excitement but he did just that to much cheering. The crowd on Epsom Downs went wild in surges of patriotic fervour and enthusiasm for the Prince of Wales at the royal achievement.

Persimmon won the Derby for the Prince of Wales by a head.  I believe Persimmon is actually the horse third from left (taking into account the colours worn by his jockey).   The camera angle is deceptive and gives the impression that the winner is going to be one of the two horses at the far left.

Edwin Douglas eventually painted the Derby winner who so nearly missed the race.  

Continue to read more of the story in The Prince Does Not Like The Straw.

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