Born in Scotland on 22 January 1848, Captain Wentworth William Hope-Johnstone had the distinction of riding King Edward's first steeplechase winner, Leonidas, which cantered home at Aldershot in 1880. For this victory, the King presented Wenty - as he was familiarly known - with a diamond and emerald horseshoe pin. Leonidas was just one of three winners Hope-Johnstone rode that afternoon.
He won three Grand Military Gold Cups: in 1873 on Revierscat, in 1875 on Lady Sneerwell, and in 1876, when he scored on Earl Marshall.
He headed the amateur list in 1876 with forty-five wins: he exceeded that amount the following season with fifty-five wins from a hundred and fourteen mounts.
It was on Hope-Johnstone's suggestion that Mr Douglas purchased Old Joe, which then went on to win the Grand National.
Formerly of the 7th Hussars and 5th Dragoon Guards, Hope-Johnstone suffered a slight paralytic stroke while acting as a steward at Lingfield and died later at Colebrook, Hever, Kent on October 25, 1910. King Edward had died the same year, on May 6.
Aged 62, Wentworth Hope-Johnstone left estate valued at £7,688.