Trophy for a military horse race in Gibraltar in 1869

Trophy for a military horse race in Gibraltar in 1869,
in the form of an elaborate silver-gilt two handled cup & cover, hallmarked Richards & Brown (Edward Charles Brown), London, 1868, the knop modelled as the Roman Goddess Minerva, the body inscribed XERES CUP, SPRING MEETING, GIBRALTAR 1869, WON BY CAPT. PERSSE'S ‘XERES’, height 30cm., weight 764gr.

1869 was the first year of public horse racing in Gibraltar. There had, however, been private meetings for the military prior to this. The racecourse was eventually levelled for the Gibraltar Airport runway.