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Hon. William Robinson Born in Lancashire in 1814, William Robinson emigrated to South Australia in 1839 and began to purchase large quantities of stock, obtaining pastoral license to the Hill River country north of Adelaide and establishing himself as one of the colony's principal pastoralists. In 1856 he sold his holdings for a large sum and moved his family to New Zealand. His purchase of land in the Cheviot Hills between 1856 and 1862 was considered the largest and most spectacular of its kind in New Zealand at the time. Robinson during this time earned the sobriquet 'Ready Money' when, to prove he had funds when a cheque of his was queried, he produced a wheelbarrow full of cash. With his tenure of Cheviot Hills secure, he returned with his family to England in 1862 and began to indulge his love of racing, investing heavily in English bloodstock. In 1865 he won both the Queen's Gold Vase with Eltham and the Royal Hunt Cup with Gratitude. The following year he sold his horses and returned to New Zealand where, by 1882, he had acquired the freehold of some 92,728 acres. Racing at Ascot Queen Anne first saw the potential of a racecourse when she came across an area of open heath not far from Windsor Castle that looked an ideal place for 'horses to gallop at full stretch.' The first race meeting held at Ascot took place on August 11th, 1711 and was open to any horse, mare or gelding over the age of six. There were two races, the first being a 50 guinea plate. Her Majesty's Plate was run on the second day, consisting of three heats, each of four miles long, with the prize worth £100. In heat racing, the winner was the first horse to win two heats; after the third heat, only the three winners could compete in a fourth if none had already won two. In 1813 Parliament's Act of Enclosure ensured that Ascot Heath, although property of the crown, would be kept and used as a racecourse for the public in the future. Until 1945 the only racing to take place at Ascot was the four day Royal Meeting but this has expanded greatly since that time. A Royal Stand has been in use since a temporary one in the 1790's allowed entrance strictly by invitation from King George III. The Royal meeting itself became five days long to mark The Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 and has remained so since.

Mark of Robert Garrard, London, 1864

The Queen's Cup, Ascot 1865

Details

Mark of Robert Garrard, London, 1864
The Queen's Cup, Ascot 1865
In the form of a massive tankard, slightly bombé on four oval strapwork feet, with guilloche and corded borders, the lower body repoussé and chased with strapwork on a partly matted ground, the central cartouche engraved with a presentation inscription, the scroll handle with lion's-head mask, the hinged cover applied with cast figures of a mounted knight and two pages with detachable spear, swords and knife, all on a rocky ground, the tankard on an octagonal black wooden plinth applied with two engraved silver plaques and twice with the Royal cypher of Queen Victoria, marked on base, cover, and handle, each sword and knife, the base stamped R & S Garrard, Panton Street, London
215oz. (6,717gr.)
23in. (58.4 cm.) high
The inscription on the tankard reads, 'The Gift of Her Majesty The Queen, Ascot, 1865'. The inscriptions on the plinth read, 'The Queen's Vase, Ascot, 1865' and 'Won by Eltham'.

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Lot Essay

The Queen's Cup

This prize, given by Queen Victoria, was 'added to a sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each.' Run on Tuesday, 13 June, 1865, The Queen's Cup, also known as The Gold Vase, was a race for 3-year-olds and upwards; weight for age; with certain allowances, and winners extra, over two miles. Apart from the Vase itself, which had no stated value in deference to the Queen, the prize was £120.

There were four runners, with the betting about even on Mr. Robinson's Eltham, the favourite, ridden by S. Adams. The Times wrote that 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 with the lead, which she carried on into the Swinley Mile bottom. On reaching the mile post 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.'

With betting 6 to 4 on Eltham, The Times recounts the following deciding heat thus: 'Eltham jumped away in front, and made the running to the first turn, when he was headed by Breeze, who led into the bottom, when Eltham drew up and waited upon the Baron's mare until half-way in the distance; he then took a slight lead, and won very cleverly by three-parts of a length.'

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