Peter Cazalet (racehorse trainer)

Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet DL (15 January 1907 – 29 May 1973) was a British cricketer, jockey, racehorse owner and trainer from Shipbourne, Kent.

He served in the Guards Armoured Division during the Second World War, reaching the rank of Major.

Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet was born at Fairlawne, Shipbourne, Kent on 15 January 1907.

[2] Edward in later life became a high court judge; Sheran married Sir Simon Hornby in 1967.

[2] In 1949,[2] Cazalet married Zara Strutt, the former wife of Lord Belper,[11] and daughter of Sir Harry Mainwaring, 5th Baronet.

[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.

[18] The following week against Essex his innings was cited by Wisden as the brightest part of a disappointing batting performance by the university.

[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.

[28][29][30] In November 1937, Cazalet announced he would retire from riding as an amateur jockey due to pressures of his business interests.

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.

[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.

[2] In 1949, Cazalet and Mildmay stayed at Windsor Castle as guests of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

[36] An early success was Manicou, who won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse in 1950.

[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.

[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.

He was unable to continue the racing stable due to his career as a barrister, and later a High Court judge.