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KISOM DERBY FEATURES. In 1*50. for the only time in the history of the race, a half-bred was placed for it. Thi- was Hotspur, only just beaten by Flying Dutchman, but on the sires side his breeding was good enough, as he wa6 by Sir Hercules, grandsire of Leamington. In 1853 West Australia for the first time won the three great classic races for three-year-olds — the Guineas, the Derby and St. Leger. Since then this feat has seven times been equaled. The first mare to win the Derby was Eleanor in 1801. The second, Blink Bonny in 1857. Since one other filly. Shotover, in 1882, has taken it. In 1860 the first American colt started for the race. .This was Mr. Ten Broecks Umpire, by Lecompte. Before the start Mr. Wyatt, owner of Nutbourne, objected to the Yankee. For this he was loudly hissed by the public who love fair play. The stewards dismissed the objection aB frivolous and. under the rules, fined Wyatt 5 for wasting their time. Umpire, though heavily backed, finished in the ruck. Nutbourne, later sire of Woodlands, when leading, jumped the tan road that crosses the track a quarter of a mile from home and thus ruined his chances. In 1862 Kettledrum Bet a time record for the race — 2:13— never beaten until Persimmon came along in 1896. In Kettledrums day the course was exactly a mile and a half, and the weight carried by colts 122 pounds. Later, when the steepness of the ascent for the first half mile was lessened, the distance was increased twenty. nine yards and the weights four pounds, to offset any advantage given by the change. The calculation was well made, for Kettledrums time has only been thrice beaten and thrice equaled since the change of course. The Derby was first timed in 1846, Pyrrhus taking 2:55 to cover the old course in that year. The year 1863 was memorable because the biggest field on record, thirty-four, went to the post. As might be expected, an outsider, Carac-tacus, won. for a big field for a stake is always a sign that no one or more competitors clearly outclass the rest. In 1864 Blair Athol, first foal of Blink Bonny, made his debut in the Derby. He won easily in record time. The following year the race went for the first time to a foreigner, the French colt Gladiateur. His victory was well received. Two years later Hermit, at 1.000 to 15 in the betting, won the race in a blinding snowstorm. The next Derby was also sensational. Blue Gown, the popular idol, won easily, while the favorite, Lady Elizabeth, who carried the money of the swells, was last. Two years later another favorite, the hottest hitherto known, went down when Macgregor fell lame. Next year Baron Rothschild won his first Derby with Favonius, and, such is luck, the Oaks and St. Leger with Hannah as well. Doncaster, founder of the great Ben dOr-Ormon-de-Orme-Flying Fox family, took the race in 1873 with odds of 40 to 1 against him. Seven years later his son. Ben dOr took it. Six years after came the latters son. Ormondes turn. Six years later his son, Orme, must have won had not an accident prevented his starting, and, to complete the family history. Ormes son. Flying Fox. won last year. Harking back, a horse bred in Hungary, named Kisber. after his birthplace, won in 1876. The event of 1881 is a memorable one, for American Iroquois, with Archer up, proved invincible. Next year a mare won for the third time. Then came the victory of St. BlaL-e. now a famoti-sire in America. In 1884 the race resulted in a dead heat, the second in its history. The first one. in 1S28, was run off, the owners in the last divided. Lord Rosebery, after trying hard for twenty odd years to win the race, got his turn in 1894, and again the following season. In 1896 another persevering aspirant for Derby honors, the Prince of Wales, met his reward. This was the second success of the royal colors, George IV. having won the Derby when Prince of Wales, in 1788. Ireland took the race for the first time in 1897 with Galtee Moore, a great grandson of Doncaster. In the following year Jeddah. at HO to 1, beat a numerous but indifferent field, and last year the S187.000 Flying Fox was successful over a worse one.— Exchange.
