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, i , i i i i ! FAMOUS HORSES IN WARS PERILS. It is said that the German officers displayed a remarkable degree of interest iu Durbar and the pedigree and performances of the latest Derby winner were iuite well known to many of them. Mr. Duryeas horse was at Marly when the war began, but was removed in a great hurry to Senlls when the former place was threatened by the Teutonic hosts. The negro groom wrapped the Epsom hero in an American Hag and covered bis horsecloth with a placard which read as follows: "This is Durbar II., the Derby winner. He is neutral." The Germans respected the horses "neutrality," and ho and his stable companion. Shannon, were allowed through and are now in a place of comparative safety. Previous Derby winners have not been so fortunate in time of war. There was the case of Comte de LaGranges Consul, for instance, which carried oiT the Prix du Jockey Club, or Derby Francais, in 1U!, beating Ardagno, Pandotir, and eleven others. This horse happened to be located at Rouville, near Levignen. when the German avalanche ioured itself through the fair domains of France forty-four years ago. He was on a visit to the estate of a big wine-grower there, who wished to add a well-known racehorse to his select stud, and who was debating whether or no tp give 3,000 guineas, or its eituivaleut in francs, for the son of Monarque. A German force entered and sacked this village, and Consul wa seized by a Uhlan colonel, who used him. it was said, as a charger in more than one subsequent battle. At the end of the war, however, when Paris capitulated, the colt again fell into French bands, and though be never ran again he distinguished himself at the stud, becoming the sire of Kilt, which won the French Derby of 1870 for Baron dc Rothschild. Kettledrum, winner of the Epsom Derby in 1S01. was sent to Austria In early life and stood for some time at the Kisber Stud. He was a conspicuous animal, a chestnut, built ou line, flowing lines, and lie reloiccd in an unusually long tail. When, after they had at last beaten gallant little Denmark in the war for "the Duchies," the rogues Austria and Prussia fell out, and the iirst-uamed empire was swiftly invaded by her erstwhile friends, being verv quickly forced to her kneees. A raid was -made on "the Kisber Stud, and Kettledrum was seized by the Prussians and at once employed ou transport work. "That animal won the English Derby," the stud-groom explained to the victorious Prussian cren-cral. "Then hell do very well," was the placid reply, "to draw a Prussian wagon." To such base usages can celebrities come. Coronation, Mr. Rawliusons son of Sir Hercules and Rubv, by Rubens, which won our Derby In 1841. was bought by the Russians. He had been, a distinguished racehorse; indeed, he was reckoned; one of the best seen out up to then. He started favorite at 5 to 2 at Epsom, and won easily by two -lengths from Lord Westminsters Van Am-bergh, after making nearly all the running. He was only second In the St. Leger, but was thought to have been unluckily beaten. The fame of the Derby had spread even to Russia seventy or so years ago. and the greatest curiosity was evinced to get a view of so notable a steed as Coronation. To quote from "The Druid," the horse "was mobbed day and night when he arrived at Riga, where he remained on view for some live weeks. His make and shape were vastly admired, but his attendants had strange notions as to the feeding: and exercising of thoroughbred stock, aud he was soon a perfect wreck. He. however, recovered a good deal of his former elegauce at a farm near the Russian capital, though he was permitted to serve marcs of all .duds and conditions. The farm was looted and burned in an insurrectinary movement some three years later, and Coronation, the equine idol of 1841. met with a tragic end." Lord Eglintous Claverhouse. which ran in thej Derby of 1S52, that won by the diminutive Daniel ORourke, was a good two-year-old, and won up-i wards of 5,000 in his first season a big sum for those days. He started at 100 to S at Epsom, and it was said at the time that "all Scotland was on the colt." Sonic good tines ran iu that Derby, apart from the winner Iloblo Noble, Joe Sillier. Homebrewed, Nabob, Kingston, and Stockwell, for example. Barbarian, which ran second, started at 100 to 1. Claverhouse, though a chicken-hearted horse -on- the -turf, was, turned intu. jih. officers, charger, and went to the Crimea. But for some dehij- at Varna he would have carried his new owner In the glorious charge at Balaclava. A colt named Chantrcy. belonging to a Mr. Jaques, was one of the starters for the Derby of 1849, though little heed was paid to Its chanco. Three years later he was given to a Russian nobie-miin who had married a sister of his owner and despatched to the land of the Muscovites. Prince Lubomtrskl. it is recorded, took a great fancy to the horse, and converted him into a charger for service in a punitive expedition against the Circassians. Chantrey. renamed Nicolai, went safely through the campaign, and lived iu honored re- tircment ou his owners estate until thirty-one years of age. Loudon Sporting Life.
