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Peter Cazalet (racehorse trainer)

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Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet DL (15 January 1907 – 29 May 1973) was a British cricketer, jockey, racehorse owner and trainer from Shipbourne, Kent. He played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club and the Marylebone Cricket Club. He served in the Guards Armoured Division during the Second World War, reaching the rank of Major. Post-war, he trained many horses owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and other notable owners. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer on three occasions.

Peter Cazalet
OccupationCricketer, jockey, racehorse trainer
Born(1907-01-15)15 January 1907
Fairlawne, Shipbourne, Kent
Died29 May 1973(1973-05-29) (aged 66)
Fairlawne, Shipbourne, Kent
Resting placeSt Giles' Church, Shipbourne
Significant horses
Devon Loch
Dunkirk
Manicou
Monaveen

Personal life

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Mrs. Cazalet and Children Edward and Victor, John Singer Sargent, 1900–1901

Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet was born at Fairlawne, Shipbourne, Kent on 15 January 1907. He was the third son and youngest child of William Marshall Cazalet and Maud Cazalet.[1][2] His brothers were Edward and Victor; his sister was Thelma. Edward was killed in action in 1916.;[3] Victor was killed in a plane crash in 1943. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.[1] Cazalet was good at racquet sports and cricket,[2] playing lawn tennis and rackets.[4][5]

 
William Marshall Cazalet, John Singer Sargent, 1902

Cazalet's father died on 22 October 1932.[3] Shortly afterwards, it was announced that Peter would marry Leonora Wodehouse,[6] the daughter of P. G. Wodehouse.[2] They were married at St Giles' Church, Shipbourne, on 14 December 1932. His brother Victor was the best man.[7] Wodehouse was delighted at the match and wrote "You know me on the subject of Peter: Thumbs up, old boy. Not only a sound egg, but probably the only sound egg left in this beastly era of young Bloomsbury novelists...You are bound to be happy."[2]

Cazalet and Leonora had a son, Edward, and a daughter, Sheran.[2] Edward in later life became a high court judge; Sheran married Sir Simon Hornby in 1967.[8]

Leonora died in London on 16 May 1944 during a routine operation.[1][9][10] Cazalet was given a few days leave from the army to attend her funeral.[1] Leonora was cremated and her ashes were scattered at Fairlawne. A window in St Giles' Church is dedicated to her.[2]

In 1949,[2] Cazalet married Zara Strutt, the former wife of Lord Belper,[11] and daughter of Sir Harry Mainwaring, 5th Baronet. They had three sons, although one, David, died in infancy. He is commemorated by a silver cross in St Giles' Church.[2] In 1957, Cazalet was nominated for the position of High Sheriff of Kent,[12] a position to which he was appointed in 1960.[13] Zara Cazalet died in 2004 at the age of 87.[2]

Cricket

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Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
RoleBatsman
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1927–1928Oxford University
1927–1932Kent
1928MCC
FC debut18 May 1927 Oxford Univ. v Leicestershire
Last FC11 June 1932 Kent v Yorkshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 22
Runs scored 744
Batting average 21.88
100s/50s 1/4
Top score 150
Catches/stumpings 6/–
Source: CricInfo, 9 October 2018

As a cricketer, Cazalet was a right-handed batsman, sometimes playing as an opener.[14] He played for Eton and scored a century in the Eton v Harrow cricket match at Lord's in July 1926.[15] Wisden, in its 1927 review of public school cricket, wrote that he had been "at once the most successful and the best" of the school's batsmen: "He has the quickness of foot and the nicety of timing that one expects in a good racquets player, but his defence was also good and he was clever at forcing the ball to the on."[16] In 1926 he played one Second XI match for Kent[14] and in September 1927 played at The Oval in a match between the Young Amateurs of Kent versus the Young Amateurs of Surrey, scoring 117 runs.[17]

Whilst at Oxford, Cazalet played first-class cricket regularly during 1927 for the Oxford University side.[14] Against Surrey he shared in a first-wicket partnership of 207 with Aidan Crawley, although he contributed only 66 runs, Crawley making 150.[18] The following week against Essex his innings was cited by Wisden as the brightest part of a disappointing batting performance by the university.[19] Following these innings he was awarded his Blue for cricket and appeared in the University Match against Cambridge.[15]

In a preview of the 1928 season in The Times, Cazalet was expected to be one of the mainstays of university batting line-up.[20] In a move that was not uncommon at the time, as an established Oxford player he was "stood down" from the early-season match against Kent County Cricket Club, appearing instead for the county side. He responded by scoring 150, sharing a partnership of 204 with Frank Woolley.[18] The Times commented that Cazalet was not even overshadowed by Woolley, one of Kent's greatest players.[21] Cazalet returned to the Oxford side for most of the rest of the university season, but was not successful, and before the end of June he had lost his place in the side and was not picked for the 1928 University Match.[15][22]

Cazalet did not play any first-class cricket between 1929 and 1931, but reappeared in two matches for Kent in 1932 without making much impact.[14][15] In all, Cazalet played in 22 first-class matches from 1927 to 1932, scoring 744 runs at an average of 21.88 runs per innings.[18]

As well as gaining a cricket blue at Oxford, Cazalet also won blues in racquets, tennis and squash. He was considered a "fine all-round sportsman" in his Wisden obituary.[15]

Pre-war racing career

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Cazalet started his career as a jockey in point-to-point racing. He came second on Beau Geste at the North Cotswold Hunt in April 1929.[23] In 1930, he moved up to National Hunt racing. He rode Rocquefort II at Haydock Park in December of that year.[24] At this time, Cazalet was building a stable of steeplechasers at Fairlawne. They were trained by Harry Whiteman.[1] Cazalet gave Elizabeth Taylor instruction in horse-riding when she was a girl.[25]

Cazalet rode in the Grand National five times in succession between 1933 and 1937. His only finish came at his first attempt on the 1930 winner Shaun Goilin, completing the Aintree course in a distant 16th.[26] He rode Master Orange in 1934,[27] and Emancipator three times in succession, in 1935, 1936 and 1937.[28][29][30]

In November 1937, Cazalet announced he would retire from riding as an amateur jockey due to pressures of his business interests. He remained an owner, with Whiteman continuing to train his horses.[31] One of Cazalet's final runners before war broke out was at Folkestone, where French Beggar came third on 4 May 1939.[32]

Wartime career

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Peter Cazalet
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service / branch  British Army
Years of service1939–45
RankMajor
UnitRoyal Artillery (1939)
Welsh Guards (1939–41)
Guards Armoured Division (1941–45)
Battles / warsOperation Goodwood
Operation Bluecoat

Following the outbreak of war in 1939, Cazalet joined the Royal Artillery. He transferred to the Welsh Guards, along with his friend Anthony Mildmay. In 1941, the Guards Armoured Division was formed under the command of Sir Oliver Leese and Cazalet was transferred to the new unit. The Armoured Guards landed at Arromanches, Manche, France on 25 June 1944 and served as a reconnaissance unit during the push across Europe before the German surrender in May 1945.[1] In February 1945, it was reported that Cazalet had been wounded in action.[33] Both Cazalet and Mildmay were involved in an action at Visselhövede, Lower Saxony, Germany on the night of 18–19 April 1945 in which they were attacked by German Marines. The Guards Armoured Division was disbanded at Rotenburg an der Wümme, Lower Saxony on 9 June 1945.[1]

Post-war career

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Cazalet started his career as a racehorse trainer in November 1945. He paid 4,000 guineas for the five-year-old gelding Fisherman's Yarn at Newmarket.[34] Another of his early horses was The Hood, who was entered for a novice hurdle race at Windsor in March 1946.[35] In the 1946–47 season, he had 40 winners, 32 of them ridden by Mildmay.[2]

In 1949, Cazalet and Mildmay stayed at Windsor Castle as guests of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. It was during their stay that they persuaded the Queen to buy a steeplechaser, which Cazalet would train.[36] An early success was Manicou, who won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse in 1950. Another of the Queen's horses trained by Cazalet was Monaveen, jointly owned with Princess Elizabeth.[37] Following Mildmay's death in May 1950, Cazalet inherited the horses owned by Mildmay and £10,000.[38]

Cazalet also trained the Queen Mother's[Note 1] Devon Loch, who fell on the run-in to the finish line at the 1956 Grand National when 50 yards (46 m) clear of E.S.B., who won. Devon Loch subsequently failed to finish.[36][39] His jockey was Dick Francis, who had been designated as Cazalet's first jockey in 1953.[40] He trained over 250 winners for the Queen Mother and was champion trainer three times.[41] Cazalet's personal chef for eight years was Albert Roux.[42]

Cazalet trained Antiar, who won the Ovaltine Hurdle at Fontwell Park Racecourse on 22 December 1962, the last day of racing before The Big Freeze set in. When racing resumed in March 1963, Cazalet had two winners at Newbury on 8 March and four the next day.[43] In the 1964–65 season, Cazalet had a record 82 winners.[1] By 1967, he had had his one thousandth winner.[2] His final runner was Soundless at Doncaster on 24 March 1973.[44]

Death

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Cazalet died at Fairlawne on 29 May 1973.[11] He was buried at St. Giles' Church; four of his jockeys carried his coffin.[2] A memorial service was held at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London on 15 June.[45] Following his death, Fulke Walwyn was appointed trainer to the Queen Mother.[36]

Fairlawne was inherited by Edward Cazalet. He was unable to continue the racing stable due to his career as a barrister, and later a High Court judge. In 1979, Fairlawne was sold to racehorse owner Khalid Abdullah.[2]

Ancestry

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Queen Elizabeth took the title Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on the death of her husband King George VI and accession to the throne of her daughter Queen Elizabeth II.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Martin, Peter. "PETER CAZALET A WELSH GUARDSMAN AT WAR". The Guards Magazine (Winter 2015). Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Chapman, Frank (2005). "The Guvnor's years". Shipbourne Life and Times. Shipbourne: Frank Chapman. pp. 3–6.
  3. ^ a b "Mr. W. M. Cazalet". The Times. No. 46273. London. 25 October 1925. col D, p. 9.
  4. ^ "Lawn Tennis". The Times. No. 43100. London. 3 August 1922. col F, p. 4.
  5. ^ "Public School Rackets". The Times. No. 43887. London. 16 February 1925. col B, p. 4.
  6. ^ "Forthcoming Marriages". The Times. No. 46291. London. 15 November 1932. col C, p. 17.
  7. ^ "Marriages". The Times. No. 46317. London. 15 December 1932. col D-E, p. 17.
  8. ^ "Sir Simon Hornby". The Daily Telegraph. London. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Obituary". The Times. No. 49858. London. 17 May 1944. col E, p. 7.
  10. ^ "Mrs. Peter Cazalet". The Times. No. 49863. London. 23 May 1944. col D, p. 6.
  11. ^ a b "Obituary: Mr Peter Cazalet". The Times. No. 58795. London. 30 May 1973. col F-H, p. 20.
  12. ^ "Nomination of Sheriffs". The Times. No. 53997. London. 13 November 1957. col E-F, p. 15.
  13. ^ "The New Sheriffs". The Times. No. 54722. London. 17 March 1960. col D, p. 19.
  14. ^ a b c d "Peter Cazalet". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  15. ^ a b c d e Cazalet, Major Peter Victor Ferdinand, Obituaries in 1973, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 1974. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Public School Cricket in 1926". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Vol. Part I (1927 ed.). Wisden. p. 317.
  17. ^ "Young Amateurs at The Oval". The Times. No. 44368. London. 4 September 1926. col B, p. 5.
  18. ^ a b c "Peter Cazalet". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Essex Matches". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Vol. Part II (1928 ed.). Wisden. p. 207.
  20. ^ "Cricket: University Prospects". The Times. No. 44879. London. 28 April 1928. p. 6.
  21. ^ "Kent's Big Score". The Times. No. 44889. London. 10 May 1928. col C, p. 7.
  22. ^ "The Universities—Oxford". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Vol. Part II (1929 ed.). Wisden. p. 477.
  23. ^ "Point-to-Point Races". The Times. No. 45180. London. 18 April 1929. col F, p. 6.
  24. ^ "Racing". The Times. No. 45689. London. 6 December 1930. col A-D, p. 5.
  25. ^ "Animals". The Elizabeth Taylor Archive. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  26. ^ "1933 Grand National". grand-national.club. 16 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Racing". The Times. No. 46710. London. 23 March 1934. col A-E, p. 5.
  28. ^ "Liverpool Programme". The Times. No. 47025. London. 29 March 1935. col E-F, p. 5.
  29. ^ "1936 Grand National". grand-national.club. 16 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Liverpool Results". The Times. No. 47638. London. 20 March 1937. col C-E, p. 5.
  31. ^ "(untitled)". The Times. No. 47845. London. 18 November 1937. col G, p. 5.
  32. ^ "Folkestone Results". The Times. No. 48297. London. 5 May 1939. col F, p. 6.
  33. ^ "Army Casualties". The Times. No. 50071. London. 19 February 1945. col D, p. 6.
  34. ^ "Racing". The Times. No. 50290. London. 3 November 1945. col G, p. 2.
  35. ^ The Times. No. 50389. London. 1 March 1946. col D, p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ^ a b c "Racing Passion". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  37. ^ "The Queen's Horse". The Times. No. 51646. London. 22 March 1950. col D, p. 3.
  38. ^ "Lord Mildmay's Will". The Times. No. 51726. London. 24 June 1950. col E, p. 4.
  39. ^ "Misfortune of Devon Loch in Grand National". The Times. No. 53489. London. 26 March 1956. col A-C, p. 4.
  40. ^ Scott, Brough (21 June 2010). "DICK FRANCIS TRIBUTE". St Martin-in-the-Fields, London: Brough Scott. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  41. ^ Cazalet, Sir Edward (2012). "Jubilee Memories of Royal Connections with Fairlawne and Shipbourne" (PDF). Shipbourne. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  42. ^ Hind, John (18 May 2014). "Seven ages of a chef: Albert Roux". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  43. ^ Scott, Brough. "The Big Freeze of '63". Brough Scott. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  44. ^ "Doncaster Programme". The Times. No. 58740. London. 24 March 1973. col A-F, p. 6.
  45. ^ "Memorial Services". The Times. No. 58798. London. 2 June 1973. col C, p. 26.
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Peter Cazalet at ESPNcricinfo  

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