Peter Cazalet

1907 - 1973

Article by Chris Pitt

Descended from a Basque-Huguenot family who came to England as refugees, Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet was born at Fairlawne, Shipbourne, Kent on January 15, 1907. He was the third son and youngest child of William Marshall Cazalet. His eldest brother Edward was killed in action in 1916 in World War One.

Peter was educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford, where he proved himself a fine all-round sportsman, winning blues at cricket, lawn tennis, racquets and squash. A right-handed batsman, he played for Oxford University, Kent and the MCC between 1927 and 1932.

In 1930, aged 23, he built up a string of steeplechasers at Fairlawne, chiefly for himself, Edward Paget and Anthony Mildmay, who all rode successfully as amateurs. The actual trainer’s licence was initially held by Harry Whiteman.

Peter made his race-riding debut at the North Cotswold Hunt point-to-point in April 1929, finishing second on Beau Geste. He had his first mount under National Hunt rules at Rugby Hunt on March 19, 1930, again finishing second in the Farmers’ Chase on Horse Marine. He rode his first winner on Youtell, the 11-8 on favourite, in a match for the three-mile St Thomas Chase at Devon & Exeter on August 28, 1930.

In December 1932, Peter married Leonora Wodehouse, daughter of the playwright P. G. Wodehouse. The had a son, Edward, who went on to become a high court judge, and a daughter Sheran.

As a rider, he was placed three times in Aintree steeplechases, finishing third in the 1931 Becher Chase on Egremont, second in the 1932 Stanley Chase on Oliver Cromwell and third in the 1934 Stanley Chase on Emancipator. He rode in five consecutive Grand Nationals (1933-37), completing the course 16th of the 19 finishers on his first attempt in 1933 aboard previous winner Shaun Goilin. However, he failed to get round on the four other occasions. After a fall on Master Orange in 1934, he rode Emancipator in three successive years, falling in 1935 and 1936, then pulling up in 1937.

He rode the last of his 59 winners under National Hunt rules on Mellburne in the R. E. Sassoon Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap Chase for amateur riders at Hurst Park on Match 5, 1937. He had what would prove to be his final ride in public when falling on Larigot in the Spring Open Handicap Chase at Sandown Park’s Royal Artillery meeting on March 31, 1937, 12 days after his last Grand National attempt. He announced his retirement from the saddle later that year due to pressures of his business interests.

Following the outbreak of war in 1939, he joined the Royal Artillery. He transferred to the Welsh Guards in 1941 along with Anthony Mildmay. However, later that year they were both transferred to the Guards Armoured Division. During their time together they laid plans for a large public stable, plans which were to come to fruition after the war.

With hostilities at an end, Peter commenced his career as a racehorse trainer in November 1945. His wife Leonora had died in May 1942 during a routine operation. In 1949 he married Zara Strutt, the former wife of Lord Belper. They had three sons, although one of them died in infancy.

Along with (Lord) Anthony Mildmay, he was responsible for fuelling the Queen Mother’s interest in National Hunt racing, training her first good horse, Manicou, to win the 1950 King George VI Chase.

Following Lord Mildmay’s mysterious death, presumed drowned in 1950, Peter Cazalet recorded what must surely have been his most poignant victory when saddling Cromwell to win the inaugural running of the Mildmay Memorial Chase in 1952.

As a trainer, his Aintree luck was worse than when he had ridden there – far worse. The Grand National was his hoodoo race, three of his runners suffering scarcely believable misfortune. In 1936 Davy Jones had landed in the lead over the second last, only for the buckle of the rein to come apart in Lord Mildmay’s hands, leaving him unable to prevent his mount from running out at the last fence. In 1948, Cromwell had held a winning chance when Lord Mildmay was attacked by crippling cramp, the legacy of a previous fall, and rode the last half-mile unable to lift his head from his chest, yet still managed to finish third. Then in 1956 the most inexplicable blow of all occurred when the Queen Mother’s Devon Loch collapsed 50 yards from the winning post with the race at his mercy.

Between 1958 and 1970, Peter Cazalet was only once out of the list of leading trainers. He was twice Champion Trainer, in 1959/60 and in 1964/65, saddling a then record 82 winners on the latter occasion. In all he trained over 1,000 winners including 250 for the Queen Mother. The royal winners included those popular multiple scorers Double Star, Laffy, Makaldar, Silver Dome, Super Fox and The Rip.

He won the King George VI Chase four times: Manicou (1950), Statecraft (1951), Rose Park (1956) and Lochroe (1958). His other major winners included the 1948 Grand Sefton Chase (Lecale Prince), 1960 Triumph Hurdle (Turpial), 1963 Imperial Cup (Antiar), 1965 Two-Mile Champion Chase (Dunkirk), 1965 Mackeson Gold Cup (Dunkirk) and 1970 Hennessy Gold Cup (Border Mask).

He trained Antiar to give the Queen Mother her sole Cheltenham National Hunt meeting victory in the 1965 Spa Hurdle (now the Stayers’ Hurdle). That success apart, however, the Cheltenham Festival was never his lucky meeting. The nearest he came to winning the Gold Cup was Lochroe’s one-length defeat by Pas Seul in 1960.

Peter Cazalet sent out his final runner, Soundless, at Doncaster on March 24, 1973. He died on May 29, 1973 following a brief illness. He was buried at St Giles’ Church, with a memorial service being held at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London on June 15. Following his death, Fulke Walwyn was appointed trainer to the Queen Mother.

The Mildmay Memorial Chase was renamed the Anthony Mildmay Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase as a tribute to their unique partnership.