A magnificent trophy commemorating the victory of Lord Rossmore's 'Reefer' in the 1882 Nottingham Spring Handicap, in hallmarked continental silver, a

A magnificent trophy commemorating the victory of Lord Rossmore's 'Reefer' in the 1882 Nottingham Spring Handicap, in hallmarked continental silver, a large vase & cover, the handles formed by swan necks, the body with a band featuring winged horses and laurel, the square base with ball & claw feet and inscribed identically on two sides 'REEFER' NOTTINGHAM HDCAP 1882, the inside of the cover extensively engraved THIS CUP WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED BY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS TO THE KING OF HOLLAND WHO AFTERWARDS GAVE IT TO ONE OF HIS AMBASSADORS IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PURCHASED BY LORD ROSSMORE TO COMMEMORATE WINNING THE NOTTINGHAM SPRING HDCAP 1882 1 1/4m. £366 WITH HIS CHESTNUT GELDING 'REEFER' BY LORD CLIFDEN - WEATHERSIDE, BY 3 LENGTHS CARRYING TOP WEIGHT 8st 7lb, RIDDEN BY GEORGE BARRETT, overall height 63.5cm., 25in., width across the handles 30cm., 11 3/4in. Reefer was a chestnut gelding foaled in 1875 by the St Leger winner Lord Clifden out of Weatherside. He had already won a Chester Cup in 1879 and was the classiest horse who lined up for the Spring Handicap at Nottingham in 1883, having to carry top weight of 8st. 7lb. In his autobiography 'Things I Can Tell' Lord Rossmore reveals that he had begged the champion jockey Fred Archer to ride Reefer at Nottingham, but Archer declined having already committed to another runner. George Barrett took full use of the opportunity steering Reefer to a comfortable 3 lengths win. Rossmore was sure of victory and no doubt a healthy wager helped pay for the purchase of this grand cup to more than suitably commemorate his horse's achievement.