Some Epsom Derby History.: Incidents Marking the Growth and Decisions of the Most Famous Race of the World., Daily Racing Form, 1909-05-23

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SOME EPSOM DERBY HISTORY. Incidents Marking the Growth and Decisions of the Most Famous Race of the World. Although not the oldest of the "classics"--the St. Lester was establiahed in 1770. and the Oaks in 1770 — the Derby is undoubtedly the most iniportani race in the world. It was founded as far back as 17SO by the sixth Karl of Derby, and has since lx-en known in Hie Calendar as ••The Derby Stakes." In the early years of its history the subscribers were few. compared wit li the inainiiol li entries of modern times, roc the Brat "Derby Stakes." which was won by Dio-med 1780. the number of subscribers was only iliirty-six; although the number fell lower in 178.1. and the following year, when the race was won re spectively by Aimwell 178.1 and Noble 11780: in these two years only twenty nine subscribed. When Spaniel 18311 won. the subscriliers numbered KM: since then the number has never fallen below three tigures. In recent years the smallest number was that otitained for Ayrshires lSssj race. The record number of 302 subscrilied when Diamond Jubilee 1968 won: MS for Rock Sands 1*064 race; and three less in Ciceros 1*06 year, i lie richest Derby on record was that won bv Lord Lyon iisoiii. tile stakes were worth 0,750: Sir Bevys 1870. 5.-100. and Hermits 1807. 6,008. XXTlien Ayrshire ilsss won. the stakes fell to 8,750; now. however, til-- stakes are guaranteed to the value of 2,506 When Caractaeus 1862 won. the largest tiehl on record ran: that year there were thirty-four starters; thirty three ran in T.-ddingtons 18.11 race; Cossack 18471 won in a field of thirty-two: both Merry Monarch 1840 anil Xlacaroni 1M3 won in a field of thirty-one. There were thirty runners when the following horses won: Blink Bonnv 1857, Blair Athol 1804 1. Xlusjid 1850. Thormanby 1888. and Hermit 1867, Only four runners turned out when Daedalus H704i won: Saltram 17s3 and Ditto 1806 both won from five rivals: John Bull 17*2. Fidget 1707. l.adas 18*4, and Rock Band 1903 all won in a tiehl of seven. Strangely enough, both Hannibal US04 and St. Aniant 1*04 won in a field of eight: there were nine starters in the Derby* won by Dlomed 1780. Kager 11701. Tyrant 11802. Ormonde 1886. Ayrshire 18K8. Cicero 1906, and Orby 1907. Altogether, four dead heats have lieen run In Hie race, as far back as 1828. when Cudluiid and The Colonel ran home locked together: and again in 1884. when Harvester and St. flatten ran their liieni arable dead beat. Although the latter pair divided, the former pair ran off. and Cadland proved aajeeeaa-f til. When Kavouius 1871 won. King of the Forest and Albert Xietor dead heated tor second place: then, again, in Doneasters 1S7.".| year. Hang Forward and Kaiser ran a dead heat for second place. Strangely enough, both Albert Victor and Hang Forward carried the colors of X. 0. Crawford. In 1780-1 2-3 the distance of the Derby was only a mile, but in 17S4 and for ever after it was run over • mile and a half. In 17S5 a prize of 100 guineas was awarded to the second horse. Tin re have been many great surprises in the Derby besides tin- triumph of the 100 to 1 Jeddali ii. ISOS. These include: Tear, owner, haraa. color and sex. odds. 1780 Mr. Bantons b. c. Noble ::• 1 180.7 Lord Kirremonts b. e. Cardinal Beaufort. 20-1 isus Sir 11. Williamsons eh. e. Ban 25-1 lso!i Duke ol iraltons b. c. Dope 20-; 1810 Duke of Yorks h. c. Brince Leopold 20-1 1817 Xlr. Bavnes eh. e. Azor 50 1 1820 Lord Egremonts b. c. Lap Dog 50-1 182! Xlr. Hratwickes b. c. Frederick 40-1 1831 I-ord I.owthers b. c. Spaniel 50 1 1833 Xlr. Sadlers eh. c. Dangerous :Ml-l ls::7 Lord Berners b. c. Phosphorus 40 1 1838 Sir O. Heathcotes br. c. Amato 50-1 1830 Mr. Ridsihiles b. e. Rloomshurv 2.1-1 1S40 Xlr. Robinsons b. c. Little Wonder 50-1 184.1 Xlr. Hratwickes h. c. The Xlerry Xlon- arch No price 1852 Xlr. Bowes oh. c. Daniel oRourkc .... 25-1 1856 Admiral Harciuuts br. c. Ellington 20 1 ls.17 W.IAnsons b. f. Blink Bonnv 20 1 lsc,2 C. Showings b. c. Carai-tacus 40 1 1S ;7 H. Chaplins eh. c. Hermit 1089-19 is73 Xlr. Merrys ch. e, Doaeaater 4.1-1 187* Xlr. Actons b. c. Sir Bevys 20 1 ls 2 I. old Bradford* eh. c. Sir Hugo 40-1 litOs Cher. Hinistrellis b. or br. f. Signorinetta MB-1 As regards riding records, the famous old-time jockey. J. Robiuson. comes out tirst. He rode in all six winners, on Azor 1817. Cedrle 1824. .Middle Ion 1825. Mameluke 1827. Cadland 182S and Bay Xliddbton 1830. Both Cliff and F. Archer rode five winners, the tutsan oa Waxy 1796. Cham pion I860. Ditto 1663. Whalebone ISM aad Tlrestaa 1819; and the latter was up on Silvio 1877. Bend or 1880. Iroqaoia Issi. Meltoa 1885 and ornionile 1886. Altogether six Jockeys have ridden four winners Arniill. S. A 1 it ill. J", Arniill. f. Buckle. W. Scott and J. Watts; the latter had the leg up on Xlerrv Hampton I8S7. Sainfoin lstMl. Ladas 1S04 and Iersiniinoii 18*6. Oi the jockeys now riding I. Xlaln r stainis above all rivals, with three successes, on Rock Sand 1003. Cicero 1905 and Spearmint 1966. Of trainers. John Bolter, the late "master of Kingsclere." betas a uiihiue record, as be sent out from his famous Hampshire stables no fewer than seven winners, including Blue liowti 1868. Shot-over 1S82i. St. Blaise 1883. Ormonde 1888 1 Sainfoin 18*0. Common 1801 and living lox 1800. Xlalt Dawson trained six winners— Thormanby 18t!0|. Kingcraft 1S70 . Silvio ls77l. Xle! ton 18.85. l.adas 1864 and Sir Visto 1895. In recent years R. Marsh has sent out Bersiinmon 1800. .leddah ISOS and Dlaui 1 Jubilee iliMHIi. The oldest Jockey to win tlie Derby was Forth. the Yorkshire trainer and rider, who was on the baik of Xlr. HraHvickes Frederick when that eait won in 1820. He was then nearly sixty-two years of age. Forth also trained the second that year — a gray colt caleil The Kxipiisite. ridden by Buckle. The youngest iixkey to ride successfully in the Blue Riband of tlie turf was Macdotiild. who won on Hie outsider. Little Wonder, in 1840. The- child for he was little mon — was presented to Otteen Vic toria and the Brince Consort after tlie race, and tlie former gave him a gohl-inounled riding whip and praised his horseiiiansbip. Italy one gray horse lias carried off the Derby. That was Mr. Hunters Oustaviis. a son of Election. out of Lady Hay. which, ridden by S. Day. won on June 7. 1821. from Reginald and Sir Ilaldibranl. Inly one black has won -Snioleii.-ko in 1813. West Australian 18.131 was tlie fust horse to win tlie "triple crown." by winning the Two Thousand. Derby and St. I.eger. Others since enrolled on the select list have been Oladiateur 1865, Lord I.vou 1806, Ormonde 1886. Common llsol. Isinglass 1893. Oaltee More |1S07L Flving Fox 18*9, Dia mond Jubilee I960, and Rock Sand 1903. Only four marcs have won the Blue Riband. They were Kleanor 1861, Blink Bonnv 1857, Shotover lss2i and Signorinetta 1008. Kleanor. Blink Bonn. and Signorinetta also won the Oaks, while Shotover had previously lauded the Two Thousand Huini as. lopular mares that have been defeated ill the great Kpsom classic were l.adv Elizabeth 1808, La Fleehc tis i2i and Sceptre 11002. The time record of 2:30* was made by Spearmint 1*06. Sam. Xlr. Thornhllls son of Scud, out of Hvale. won the Dcrbv on his birthday, he having been foaled 011 Mav 28. 1815. Kllingtons time. 3:04. in 1850. was tlie slowest Stece the duration of the contest was first recorded. Mincepic took tile same time to win Hie Oaks that year. Ainato. trained on F.psom Downs, never ran before tlie Derby of 1838. which he won. and never ran afterward. He won by a length, ridden by Chappie, from Ion. with Iowis up. and Grey Mourns, which S. -Day rode. Only two fillies have run second in the Derby prior to winning tlie Ocks. La Iicche araa one. and the other. Deceigion. by Defence, out of Lady Stumps, belonging to Xlr. Kulwell Craven. This mare ran second to Bloomsbury on Hie Wednesday, and was easily victorious in the "ladies " race on tlie It i day. This was in 1830. The Derby has been five times won bv two own brothers. The Instance of Persimmon ami Dian 1 Jubilee is. of coarse, well known: In 1820 and 1831, two ins of Whalebone and a mare by Cam. pus were successful. These wet* Lap Dog and Spaniel, and. oilillv enough, each Started at the long price of Hi to 1. Danger, the first Preach coll to run in the Derby, was so despised thai lie started at 1. 000 to 5 in I860, bill he finished fourtii to Thormanby. The Wizard and Honor.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800