Conquering Hero (George Frederick - Derby Winner 1874) Poem by Paul Reed

"See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets! Beat the drums!
Sports prepare! The laurel bring!
Songs of triumph to him sing!
See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets! Beat the drums! "
Georg Friedrich Handel

Wroughton village bedecked in red and black
Excitement in the air, in everything,
See, the conquering hero is back!
There, the horse named after a King;

The crowds cheered and drank and sang
The happy throng formed a procession,
The band played and the church bells rang
To celebrate their hero's accession;

The golden chestnut, dappled in the sun
Come home to his oats and pail,
Pricking his ears at what he had done
And those that grabbed at his tail;

But now, his stable is no longer a home
Demolished, and housing estates built,
On the serene downs an aerodrome
Once empty spaces filled to the hilt;

Long drifted away the cheery singing
The march of progress taken it's place,
No more are the church bells ringing
For George Frederick and his famous race.