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ORIGIN OF THE ST. LEGER. The St. Leger, one of Englands great turf classics, which had its 130th running this year, is named after a certain Colonel St. Leger, who flourished about 150 years ago at Park Hill, near Don-taster. He and Ids friends were thoroughly imbued with the racing spirit, and they could not well help c.jiisidcrlng there had been horse racing in the :it ighborhood prior to 1000. This is beyond question. Those who began so unambitiously had little uV.-.i that in the future half of sporting England would be attracted to the Yorkshire town, and that this flourishing district would be able to have a race meeting conducted by the corporation. The ruling body of the town of Doucaster takes all the profits of this four days race meeting, and it bus the effect of making the tax rates low, for the oalance of profits Is enormous. Consider, too, that large proportion of the townspeople let their houses or rooms for the week at a high figure, and the hotels and shopkeepers have a big turnover in the way of takings, and some idea can be formed ff what racing can do for a community. What a difference nowadays with the scores of special trains emptying tons of thousands of people and motor carriages from all parts, to the camping ground of olden times when both the quality and "followers" began to arrive the previous week In stage coaches, post chaises, and private chariots. T.n-n it was sport and gambling from morning to night, cock lighting, hunting, freak matches, events la the prize ring, and at night roulette, dice, cards, and every device to cause money to change hands or circulate. I heard some extraordinary stories from my father, many of which doubtless were told to him, of the sporting spirit which pervaded everything. But there was a certain picturesqueness aliout it that redeemed it all. At various inns and lodgings gargantuan repasts, with enormous libations of port and punch, were usually followed by talk about the races of the morrow and many fancy bets were made. And when thov got tired they would wager about anything, relapsing later in the evening into gambling for large nuns. Vn ancestor of mine, a Duko of Queensberry. "Old Q " won in his life 0,000,000 racing and gambling He was a frequent visitor at Doncaster, aud had one or two sensational wins there. Geor-e IV , when prince regent, did :i good deal to encourage the "sport of kings," and with his brother the Duke of Clarence afterwards William IV. visited Doncaster more than once. He was surrounded by friends. Then they drove to the races in carriages and teams of six In silver harness, of course with outriders. The Prince of Wales afterwards George IV. was as big a. gambler as any one, r-Mid would win or lose 50,000 in a sitting. I The late King Edward was fond of Doncaster and the large house party in the neighborhood would accompany him to the races. The king always drove in a carriage with four horses and outriders in plain livery. There seems a curious fatality In recent years about the winner of the Derby taking the St. Leger. Sunstar, the Derby hero of this year, broke down and was scratched three weeks prior to the running of the St Leger. The last Derby winner to take the St. Leger was Rock Sand, now the property of Mr. August Belmont of New York. This horse was one of nine "triple-crown" heroes those that have taken the three great classic races, the Two Thousand finlneas, the Derby, ami the St. Leger. Marquis of Queensberry, in Chicago Tribune.
