Anthony Bingham Mildmay, 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete
Encyclopedia
Anthony Bingham Mildmay, 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete (14 April 1909 – 12 May 1950) was an amateur steeplechaser who raced in the Grand National. He kindled the Queen Mother
’s interest in National Hunt racing
.
and his wife Alice Grenfell. He was educated at St Cyprian's School
, Eastbourne
where he was encouraged to ride
on the South Downs
. He then went to Eton
and Trinity College, Cambridge
. He was a Captain in the Welsh Guards
and fought in World War II
. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete
on 8 February 1947.
before and after the war being a persistent "trier", despite some bad luck. In 1936, riding the 100-1 Davy Jones, he was leading at the 2nd to last fence when a buckle on the reins broke and the horse ran out. In 1947 he fell at Folkestone and injured his neck, which gave rise to disabling attacks of cramp. In the 1948 Grand National he finished third on his favourite horse Cromwell, after an attack of the cramp meant he was just a passenger. During his career, he rode no fewer than 32 winners in one season. He rode eight winners at Cheltenham Racecourse
, including three at The Festival
.
However Mildmay’s most notable legacy was in kindling the Queen Mother’s passion for jump racing which lasted until her death. At a dinner in Windsor Castle
in 1949, Mildmay sat next to Queen Elizabeth and persuaded her that he should buy her a horse, to share with her daughter, then Princess Elizabeth. Mildmay’s trainer Peter Cazalet selected Monaveen for them and it won his first race for them at Fontwell Park Racecourse
, finished second in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree Racecourse
, and then took the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Chase at Hurst Park
(now the King George VI Chase
at Kempton Park Racecourse
).
, and the Anthony Mildmay-Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase at Sandown Park
.
The Mildmay Course at Aintree, opened in 1953, was also named after him.http://www.aintree-grand-national.net/grand-national-history.php
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
’s interest in National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
.
Birth, education and military service
Mildmay was the son of Francis Bingham Mildmay, 1st Baron Mildmay of FleteFrancis Bingham Mildmay, 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete
Francis Bingham Mildmay, 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete DL, TD was initially a Liberal and later a Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 until 1922 when he was raised to the peerage....
and his wife Alice Grenfell. He was educated at St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School was an English preparatory school for boys, which operated in the early 20th century in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Like other preparatory schools, its purpose was to train pupils to do well enough in the examinations to gain admission to leading public schools, and to provide an...
, Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
where he was encouraged to ride
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
on the South Downs
South Downs
The South Downs is a range of chalk hills that extends for about across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen Valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, in the east. It is bounded on its northern side by a steep escarpment, from whose...
. He then went to Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He was a Captain in the Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
and fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete
Baron Mildmay of Flete
Baron Mildmay of Flete, of Totnes in the County of Devon, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 20 November 1922 for Francis Mildmay, for many years Member of Parliament for Totnes. He was the grandson of Humphrey St John-Mildmay, younger son of Sir Henry Paulet St...
on 8 February 1947.
Steeplechasing
"Nitty" Mildmay a gaunt, stoop-shouldered six-footer, was a famous and popular amateur steeplechaser. He rode in the Grand NationalGrand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
before and after the war being a persistent "trier", despite some bad luck. In 1936, riding the 100-1 Davy Jones, he was leading at the 2nd to last fence when a buckle on the reins broke and the horse ran out. In 1947 he fell at Folkestone and injured his neck, which gave rise to disabling attacks of cramp. In the 1948 Grand National he finished third on his favourite horse Cromwell, after an attack of the cramp meant he was just a passenger. During his career, he rode no fewer than 32 winners in one season. He rode eight winners at Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
, including three at The Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
.
However Mildmay’s most notable legacy was in kindling the Queen Mother’s passion for jump racing which lasted until her death. At a dinner in Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
in 1949, Mildmay sat next to Queen Elizabeth and persuaded her that he should buy her a horse, to share with her daughter, then Princess Elizabeth. Mildmay’s trainer Peter Cazalet selected Monaveen for them and it won his first race for them at Fontwell Park Racecourse
Fontwell Park Racecourse
Fontwell Park Racecourse is a horse racing course located in the village of Fontwell in West Sussex, England. It features a figure-of-eight chase course and an oval hurdles course....
, finished second in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
, and then took the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Chase at Hurst Park
Hurstpark
Hurstpark was a race course in South West London. The original setting for many famous races was also frequented by royalty. The frying pan shape was used for both jump and flat racing. It was sold for housing in the 1950s....
(now the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
at Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
).
Death by drowning
In 1950, Mildmay suffered an attack of cramp while swimming off the south Devon coast and drowned at the age of 41. He was unmarried and the title became extinct.Commemoration
Mildmay left his horses to Cazalet and among them was Manicou, which became the Queen Mother's second steeplechaser. He is commemorated in several events initiated by his friends – the Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase (presently known as the Byrne Group Plate) at Cheltenham, the Mildmay Stakes at Newton Abbot RacecourseNewton Abbot Racecourse
Newton Abbot Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located on the north bank of the River Teign in the parishes of Kingsteignton and Teigngrace just north of Newton Abbot Devon, England. The course is a tight flat left-handed oval of about 1m1f...
, and the Anthony Mildmay-Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase at Sandown Park
Sandown Park
Sandown Park is a horse racing course and leisure venue in Esher, Surrey, England, in the outer suburbs of London. It hosts one Group 1 flat race, the Eclipse Stakes. It regularly has horse racing during afternoons, evenings and on weekends, and also hosts many non racing events such as trade...
.
The Mildmay Course at Aintree, opened in 1953, was also named after him.http://www.aintree-grand-national.net/grand-national-history.php