Peter Beatty
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Peter Randolph Louis Beatty (2 April 1910 – 26 October 1949) was an English
racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
owner and breeder, businessman and member of the
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.


Early life and personality

Born on 2 April 1910, Beatty was the younger son of
David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty Admiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty, (17 January 1871 – 12 March 1936) was a Royal Navy officer. After serving in the Mahdist War and then the response to the Boxer Rebellion, he commanded the Battle Cruiser Fleet at ...
and his wife Ethel. An heiress in her own right, Beatty's mother was the only daughter of
Marshall Field Marshall Field (August 18, 1834January 16, 1906) was an American entrepreneur and the founder of Marshall Field's, Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores. His business was renowned for its then-exceptional level of qua ...
, an American millionaire who was involved in the
department store A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store under one roof, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store mad ...
business in Chicago. His mother's death in 1932 made Beatty a millionaire. As a baby Beatty suffered from ophthalmia neonatorum. It affected his eyesight and personality throughout his life; he was frequently high-strung, and his eyesight gradually deteriorated. Beatty had consulted eye specialists in the UK and the US and also had many eye surgeries; none were able to offer him any improvement for the condition. Beatty was described as having a shrewd business sense, particularly when it came to horses and horse racing. He was also said to be witty and at times, mischievous. Despite his failing eyesight, Beatty managed to obtain a commission in his father's old service. He served with the Commando Brigade in the Middle East until he was invalided out. He was a
tall, dark and handsome "Tall, dark, and handsome" is a phrase that refers to an appealing man. It originates from romantic fiction produced in the early 1900s. History and interpretation According to British lexicographer Eric Partridge, the phrase "tall, dark and ha ...
man who had once been named one of Britain's most eligible bachelors. At the time of his death Mereworth Castle in Kent was his main residence.
Aly Khan Prince Aly Salomone Khan (13 June 1911 – 12 May 1960), known as Aly Khan, was an Ismaili sayyid, socialite and ambassador for Pakistan. He was the son of the Aga Khan III, and the father of Aga Khan IV. A socialite, racehorse owner and jock ...
and his wife,
Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918May 14, 1987) was an American actress, dancer, and Pin-up model, pin-up girl. She achieved fame in the 1940s as one of the top stars of the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of ...
, were Beatty's guests at the castle for the running of the Epsom Derby in June 1949.


Horse racing

Beatty's nickname was "Lucky" because of the success he had enjoyed at an early age in horse racing. He told friends that he had consulted a fortune teller, who told him he would win the Epsom Derby with a horse whose name had three "s" in it; four years later, Beatty's Bois Roussel won the race. In 1936 Beatty inherited Reigate Priory, the last private individual to own the property, and added stables to the grounds for his racehorses. He sold the property to the Mutual Property Life and General Insurance Company in 1942. Beatty was also involved in horse breeding; the noted racehorse My Babu was bred by Beatty. Beatty had racehorses trained at Beckhampton by
Fred Darling Frederick Darling (1884–1953) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who trained a record-equalling seven English Derby winners. Darling's father, Sam Darling senior, was a trainer at Beckhampton, near Avebury in Wiltshire, who traine ...
. He purchased the racehorse Bois Roussel from Leon Volterra for £8,000, and it went on to win The Derby on 1 June 1938. The horse had been listed as having 20 to 1 odds. The win surprised both Beatty and many others at the racecourse. King
George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until Death and state funeral of George VI, his death in 1952 ...
, whose horse, Licence, was also entered in the race, invited Beatty to the Royal Box after the win. The Derby victory won Beatty around $50,000. Beatty and Prince Aly Khan were friends and business partners, sharing a love of horses and horse racing. Beatty and Khan were joint owners of Tant Mieux, the 1939 winner of the
Gimcrack Stakes The Gimcrack Stakes is a Group races, Group 2 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old Colt (horse), colts and geldings. It is run at York Racecourse, Yor ...
.


Death and legacy

Beatty died on 26 October 1949 after falling from a sixth floor window of
The Ritz Hotel, London The Ritz London is a Hotel rating, 5-star luxury hotel at 150 Piccadilly in London, England. A symbol of high society and luxury, the hotel is one of the world's most prestigious and best known. The Ritz has become so associated with luxury an ...
, having been informed that he was going completely blind. At the time of his death, Beatty's eyesight had failed to the point where he needed to be in the company of his valet to walk. He was wearing his pyjamas and a robe when he told his valet he was going to the sixth floor of the Ritz to visit friends there. He then fell six floors to his death at the rear of the hotel. Beatty's most recent eye surgery was on 5 September. His brother, David Beatty, 2nd Earl Beatty, with whom he was living at the time, said that after the surgery Beatty began to lose what little sight he had left, but gave no indication that he intended to kill himself. A coroner's verdict was that Beatty had committed suicide, since he had recently learned that there was no hope of saving his sight. It upset Beatty greatly that his blindness meant that he could no longer see his racehorses. For a number of years, he needed to have someone describe the races to him when he went to a racetrack. His estate was valued at more than £306,000 in 1950, equivalent to £29.1 million as of 2013. Mereworth Castle was left to Michael Lambert Tree, Beatty's nephew. Tree was a son of Ronald Tree, Beatty's half sibling from his mother's first marriage. Ronald Tree's other son, Jeremy Tree, inherited Beatty's bloodstock and became a racehorse trainer himself.


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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Beatty, Peter 1910 births 1949 deaths British racehorse owners and breeders
Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...
Marshall Field family British people of American descent Suicides by jumping in England English blind people Younger sons of earls Owners of Epsom Derby winners