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REAL NATURE OF SIR MARTINS ACCIDENT. American Colt Did Not Fall in the Derby, but Stumbled and Threw His Rider. From reports received by cable the impression was established in this country that Sir Martin Ivad fallen while running in the ■PSSM Derby. It has now become evident that the colt did not fall but slipped and stumbled in changing his stride on the sharp Tattenlam -Corner turn. Martin being unseated and falling in front of several of the oncoming horses, one of which. Wllrkiin the Fourth, leaped high in the air while passing directly over him. On the point of Sir Martin not falling Daily Racing Form publisl ed the substance of a letter to John Madden from trainer Thomas McCreery recently, in which it was stated the east did not go down, and confirmatory evidence is now at hand in Kiiglish turf newspapers. As is usual. Sporting Life had several accounts of the Derby, by different writers, and extracts from their accounts read: "At the hill top Brookl-inds hegan to fall Imck. and Strickland dashed up to within a length of Lou-vlers. Electric Boy and Minoru being handy, while William the Fourth. Valens. Sir Martin and Bayardo were in a group next, with Sandbatb at their quarters. Half way down the hill Sir Martin was crowded in upon and. losing his balance, pecked so badly as lo shoot bis jockey from the saddle." "At Tattenhani Corner we suddenly missed Sir Martins colors, and1 it transpired that he was crowded in upon, aud slipped up. and he came around Tattenhani Corner riderless." "From what I hear, the American colt slipped when making the descent to Tattenham Corner and unshipped his jockey." "The American seat is evidently ill-adapted to the Epsom course, and Sloan. I.yne and now Martin have taken headers and upset the prospects of many others. One extraordinary feature of the race is that at least five or six trainers think that with a little better luck they might have won. Dawson Waugh. who turned out Louvlers in truly grand con dition. thought he lost a bit at the turn when Minoru was Isixed in behind him. William the Fourth and III all I— were interfered with by the mishap to Sir Martin. Valens was at times somewhat badly placed, and Bavardo easing up. a good fifth l was short a few gallops through want of rain." Similarly the Sportsman present* some varying views of tlie matter, one writer. Allison, saying Sir Martin fell, but he was evidently mistaken. "Skeets" Martin, who was the unlucky victim of the accident, said: "Sir Martin came on his head and knees, and scrambled along for quite a hit. He did not fall. If he had fallen he would have brought down soin ■ others. I think he interfered with Higgs and one or two more. I remember hitting the ground and telling the people who crowded round to keep away. Then some policeman came, and I dont remember Bay more till 1 found myself back ill the weighing room." Mr. Allisons version is as follows: "As a matter of fact. Sir Martin, which is a somewhat sprawling goer, crossed his legs and fell without interference of any sort or kind. His fall did. however, very materially interfere with Bayardo. which up to that point was, in the opinion of Mailer, going as well as anything, and in a lesser degree William the Fourth was Impeded, but on such occasions one does not like even to suggest that the result might conceivably have been different." • Finally in the Sportsman "F. C. R." writes: "I happened to he standing at Tattenhani Corner when the accident to Sir Martin occurred, and what took place was this: Sir Martin struck into the horse in front of him. his right foreleg hitting the hoof of this animal. This caused him to stumble, and Martin was thrown right over bis bead and. turning a somersault, landed on the ground on his face, bis feet pointing towards the stands. He rolled over twice and then laid quite still, face upwards and arms thrown out. I was the first doctor to attend him and. seeing that nothing could be done there, ordered his removal as quickly as possible on the hand ambulance to the weighing room, an order promptly carried out by the police." There is one point on which the critics are agreed and that Is that up to the time of the accident. Sir Martin was going as well as anything in the race and was evidently being saved in a good position for a supreme effort down the straight homestretch. Whether he would have won or not is now a matter of conjecture, but his formidable chance of doing so is undeniable. It is something to know that the post prices were Sir Martin. •! to 1; Minoru. 84 to 1, and Bavardo. 41 to 1.
