Major E.H. Egerton Official handicapper to the Jockey Club

Details

Liberio Prosperi 'Lib' (fl.1886-1903)
Major E.H. Egerton
Official handicapper to the Jockey Club
signed, inscribed and dated 'Lib. Prosperi/Mr. Geo: Egerton/our Handicapper./1886.' (lower left)
pencil and watercolour heightened with white
14½ x 9¼ in. (36.8 x 23.5 cm.)

Provenance

Thomas Gibson Bowles.

Exhibited

San Francisco, Stanford University, In Vanity Fair, 30 September - 16 November, 1980.
Hendon, Church Farm House Museum, Vanity Fair 1869-1914, 10 September - 18 December, 1983.
Newmarket, Museum of Racing.

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Further details

E N D O F S A L E

Lot Essay

Major E. H. Egerton was the official handicapper to the Jockey Club at the time this drawing by 'Lib' was executed, in 1886. He began his career in the Rifle Brigade before transferring his energies towards horse racing. He lived near Doncaster and was known and respected for his mild manners and unyielding disposition.

He is full of racing lore, and could revise the proofs of 'Ruff' without reference; for he is so devoted, both by profession and inclination, to the Turf and to performances thereon that it is very hard for the most knowing sportsman to get round him.... He is so straight that it would be absurd to say that his work gives general satisfaction to racing men, unless it be assumed that most racing men are straight.

Vanity Fair, 'Men of the Day', No. 437, 1889.

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