A bay racehorse with jockey, Luke White, 3rd Baron Annaly (1857-1922) up, wearing the Prince of Wales's colours. On the left stand two gentlemen, presumably Lord Marcus Beresford (1848-1922), who later became King Edward VII's racing manager, and John Jones, the trainer.

In 1882, the future King Edward VII's involvement in racing was in its infancy. His initial interest in racing was confined to steeplechasing, and had been inspired by his attendance at Liverpool for the 1878 Grand National. The Prince joined the rank of racehorse owners in 1880, when 'Leonidas' won for him the Military Hunt Steeplechase at Aldershot. The following year the Prince commissioned Lord Marcus Beresford to find him another horse, and the result was the purchase of 'Fairplay', four-year-son of 'Paganini' and 'Astrea'. Despite his young age, he won the Household Brigade Cup of £280 over a three-mile course at Sandown in 1882 and this painting presumably commemorates that win.

The French-born equestrian artist Alfred de Prades exhibited at the British Institution from 1858-67.