The re-imagined story …
It was usually the wind that caused the horses to be skittish but that early morning in June there was not so much as a breath of air. Brayhead, a handsome chestnut stallion, was looking agitated as Tom led him out of the stable into the yard. Most of the horses were already on their way to the gallops on Russley Downs, but I held back.
Tom was an experienced stable lad and perfectly capable of handling the horse, but I was just a little concerned. Brayhead was edgy, stepping backwards in circles each time Tom tried to get into the saddle. Eventually he was up and slipping his feet into the stirrups.
“A bit frisky today,” he laughed as he pulled on the reins to guide the animal’s head in the right direction. I followed behind as we joined the string of racehorses heading out across the Wiltshire countryside. Once on the open downs Brayhead took off in an explosion of speed. I wondered if Mr Robinson had noticed.
On our way back to the yard I noticed the horse was sweating profusely, yet the exertion had failed to exhaust him. In fact, quite the opposite and Tom continued to have difficulty keeping him under control.
Again, I was at the rear of the string of horses returning to Foxhill House. It was normal practice to take them to their stable and rub them down after their exercise, but when I arrived back at the yard the other horses and riders were being led into the paddock.
I could hear Brayhead snorting and stamping in his stable, but otherwise it was eerily quiet in the yard, despite the number of people gathered around the figure on the ground.
Tom died from his injuries three days later. Afterwards, I wished I had voiced my concerns that morning, approached Mr Robinson, done something.
views across Liddington Castle, Wiltshire.
The facts …
Serious Accident at a Racing Stable – On Monday morning an accident which proved to be of a serious nature occurred at the well known Foxhill Stables at Lydington, near Swindon. It appears that while the horses were out for their morning exercise Mrs Langtry’s Brayhead started rearing, and fell back on a lad named Tom Whiteman. Assistance was soon at hand, but it was easily visible that a serious accident had happened. Dr J. Campbell Maclean, from Swindon, was sent for, and his assistant (Dr. C. Carew Webb) was soon at the stables, and made an examination, which proved that the lad was suffering from a fractured pelvis, and was badly injured in the abdomen. He ordered his removal to the Swindon Victoria Hospital. The patient lies in a very dangerous condition, and his recovery is not expected.
The Warminster and Westbury Journal Saturday June 17, 1899
Brayhead was a chestnut stallion owned by the actress Lillie Langtry. Mrs Langtry is remembered for her numerous affairs, most famously with Albert, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and Prince Louis of Battenberg.
Mrs Langtry owned a number of racehorses, purchased under the name of Mr Jersey. In 1899 the five-year-old Brayhead was one of several horses in training with William ‘Jack’ Robinson at Foxhill. Wiltshire.
Tom Whiteman 39, died in the Victoria Hospital on June 15. He was buried two days later in Radnor Street Cemetery in plot C1237, a public or pauper’s grave, with five other unrelated people.
Mr W.J. Robinson and the Foxhill stables – published courtesy of the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, March 11, 1899.
Radnor Street Cemetery 