Rupert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton

Joseph Rupert Eric Robert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton, DL (22 January 1924 – 8 August 2003), of Houghton Hall in the parish of Sancton, Yorkshire, was a British soldier, landowner and racehorse owner[1] who served as Senior Steward of the Jockey Club (1982-5).

He was the only son and heir of Miles Watson, 2nd Baron Manton of Compton Verney, Warwickshire and later of Plumpton Place, East Sussex, by his first wife Alethea Langdale, the younger of the two daughters and co-heiresses of Colonel Philip Joseph Langdale,[1][2] OBE, JP, DL, of Houghton Hall.

He lived near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, until moving to the East Riding of Yorkshire to run Houghton Hall and[citation needed] its 5,000-acre (20 km2) estate.

[1] Following the example of his father, who had established a stud at Plumpton Place in Sussex, and of his grandfather the 1st Baron Manton who took his title from the famous racehorse training establishment at Manton, Wiltshire, purchased by him shortly before his early death, he became a successful owner and breeder of racehorses.

[1] From 1970 to 1975 he was a member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, created to divert monies from bookmakers to the racing industry.

[citation needed][5] As Senior Steward he led the campaign to persuade the government to allow betting shops to show televised races.