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COLORS IN THE FIRST EPSOM DERBY The establishment of the New Derby at New ¬ market to take the place for this year of its great Epsom prototype and the generous action of Lord Derby in endowing the new race with one thousand pounds have evoked widespread interest No happier method than that adopted bv Lord Derby for continuing the ancient association of his family with the chief classic race of the English turf could possibly have been devised It was out of compliment to the twelfth Earl of Derby who had a country seat near Epsom that bis name was bestowed on the inaugural race for the Blue Ribbon in 17SO Already in the previous year the name of his Epsom seat The Oaks had been given to the sister classic event which dates back to 1779 To the return in Ortous Annals of York Doncaster and Epsom of the first race for the Oaks which was won by Lord Derbys filly Bridget a daughter of Herod is appened a foot note remarking on the coincidence that the stake should be lirst won by the nobleman after whose scat the name of the race originated Lord Derby was one of the party of thirtythree owners that entered horse for the first Blue Ribbon but his nominee was not in the little band of eight colts which were defeated on May 4 1780 by Sir C Bunburys chestnut Diomed At that period the racing colors of the Earl of Derby were not the nowadays famous black white cap borne by Canterbury Pilgrim Stedfast and other good animals According to Weatherbys Calendar for 17S1 Lord Derby Lord Foley Lord Egremont and Mr Fox no doubt the famous politician Charles James Fox all ran their horses with the same colors green and white stripe Representatives of the families of other modern patrons of the turf that entered horses for Diomeds Derby were the Duke of Cumberland whose colt by Eclipse ran unplaced Lord Edward Bentinck and Lord Gros venor neither of whom bad a runner Lord Ed ¬ ward Bentinck was the second son of the second Duke of Portland and his colors orange maroon cap were entirely different to those of the present Duke Lord Grosvenor who a few years after Diomeds Derby was created an earl however had very similar colors orange black cap to those carried by Bend Or Flying Fox Troutbeck and other good horses owned by the late and the present Duke of Westminster Vigilant in Lon don Sportsman
