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EPSOM DERBYS OF A HUNDRED YEARS. Incidents Attending the Running of the Most Famous Race of the World. Ninth Article. Following the dead-beat between St. Gatien and Harvester eauie another thrilling Derby finish, in which Mdtuu and Paradox wire concerned. The latter. With «dds of 3 to 1 laid on, had previously w-iii the Two Thousand, though it was only by a bead that lie accounted for Crafton. Paradox was bj Sterling out of Casuistry, and was purchased Ba ■ yearling for 400 guineas. The colt gave Porter roaslderable trouble, "but in the autumn of 1884 be won a high trial. So impressed was the Duke of Westminster that be gave 0,000 pounds for him. ami lie went to Newmarket strongly fancied to win iLe Middle Park Plate. He squandered his providences at the stall, however, but a fortnight later lie carried off ibe Dewharsi Plate in the colon or Mr. Broderh k h.ote. who had seeured him in the interim. Melton belonged to Lord Hastings, by whom he was bred. Melton was a promising yearling, ami ep. etatiiiis were justified in bis to-yoar-oji| season, during which his only defeat was sustained in the July Stakes, in which lie ran second to Luminary. Fred Archer bad ridden Paradox in the Two Thousand, but "The Tinmau"" bad the handling of Melton in the Derby, Webb being on the back Of Sterlings sen. The running was made by Royal Hampton, owned by Sir then Mr. Blundell Maple, who at the period was raring as Mr. "ChlhlwtCK. Melton was nearer last than first. When a half mil- bad been covered Paradox was lying third, but descending the hill Melton began to impr-ve bis position. After reaching the straight Xain-irailies led from Red Bala, with 1aradox third and Melton ill a baudv position. Three furlongs from borne Paradox held a decided lead, but Archer, ■who of course, was well aware of the Two Iboti-•and winners capabilities and eccentricities, bad the position well guaged. He was aware of the fact that Paradox was averse to making the running, and his idea was to keep as far away as he reasonably could so long as possible. The spectators however, did not appreciate the situation, and were — rtcT the impression that Melton— which. Iij the way. was favorite— was engaged in a hopeless pursuit. Archer knew what he was about, however, and. timing the position to a nicety, challenged when the winning post was in sight. Melton drew level with 1aradox a bundred and fifty yards from the judges box and from thence to the end the pair were engaged in a stirring struggle. Fifty yards from home it looked odds on tbe Two Thousand hero, and a few strides from the post be still looked like x inning. Arclier gave ids mount one or two reinind-en that serious business was on band and the colt. responding gamely, got up in the last moment and Won by a iiead. Archer had ridden many great lini-hes it is almost needless to say. but never -r. ater than in this instance, and the famous rider was accorded a tremendous ovation. Meltons next appearance was in the St. Leger, which be won in a canter from Isobar, while the owner of Paradox received some compensation for his Epsom failure when the colt won the Grand Prix de Paris, in which race Archer renewed association with the colt. Ihis brings us to the year of the mighty Ormonde. So much has been written concerning this world-famed son of Bend Or and Lily Agues that it is almost impossible to strike out on a new line Thus one can do no better than quote from rbe pages of "Kingsclere," written by the horses trainer in collaboration with Mr. Bryon Webber. Herein it is stated: "From tbe moment he came Into Iorters bauds the trainer was convinced that the son of Lend Or was a great borse. He was a line free, tireless mover; be went to work in bis gallops as though he liked it: he was gentle to handle, and did unfailing justice to the contents of bis manger. In short, although he was allowed 1 , cor on in his own natural way, not being Jorecd or hurried in the least, be gave the trainer n« trouble whatever. As to his being tried, a lew words in reference to his stable companion Ax ill throw some light on that question. This was Kendal foaled the same year as Ormonde, by Bend Or out of Windermere. He bad a short but brilliant turf career, which commenced at Chester in 1885 with the winning of the Mastyn Plate. He was scond to Saraband in tbe New Stakes at v,.,r with some capable company behind him. ltei winning other races he was tried in early October with Ormonde, the result being: Kendal. 2 11! pounds. 1: Ormonde, 2. 120 pounds. 2: Dip-net In i. 134 pounds. 3. Won by a length: same distan between second and third. Ormonde, moreover, was anything but fit on this occasion: bat be proved bis ability by winning his first race, the Post Sweepstakes at Newmarket, easily trom Modwona, which had previously won five races. Following this. Ormonde easily lieat Oberon and others in the Criterion Stakes, and even more .asiiv accounted for ten rivals in the Dewborst Plate after which he retired for the season lie made bis reappearance in the Two Thousand, in which be was opposed by another celebrity in Mint-in" which afterwards won the Grand Prix de Paris and the Jubilee Stakes, in the latter race carrying no less than 140 iM.unds. Minting was favorite for the first of the classics, at 11 to 10 against, with Saraband next in demand at 3 to 1 against, and Ormonde on the 7 to 2 mark. Much to the surprise of Mat Dawson, the trainer of Minting. Ormonde won in the easiest fashion by a caide of lengths, and though Mr. it. C. yner. who owned the favorite, was naturally disappointed. be accepted the situation, realizing the futility of opposing the Kingsclere champion at Epsom. The elimination of Minting of course robbed the premier lassie of a deal of its interest, though there were possibilities about The Bard, which had wen sixteen races as a juvenile: but odds of I to 4 were laid on Ormonde. A stable companion of tie favorite named Coracle, was started to make the running for the son of Bend Or. but the assistance of the pacemaker was never reuuirod. The race between Ormonde and I is as anticipated, a match The Bard, and the pair kept together for the great- ; pari of the Journey. Ormonde had somewhat straigit pasterns and there were some among those looking ; on who expected to see him in trouble When the descent to Tattenhani corner bad to be made. But 1U ••Thomases" were quite wrong. Ormonde swept down the hill in bis own inimitable style and in ! making the turn into the straight gained a couple of ; lengths m The Bard. The latter raised strong hopes of an interesting finish by getting on terms ; ■with tbe favorite on entering the straight, but it little son ot !•■■-1rai.li ■ Was soon obvious thai the gallant was op against a proposition quite beyond J bin Wood had to push his mount, while Archer was able to take matters leisurely. Beyond the dis-lan.-e Ormonde was asked for his effort, and the colt soon put paid to the account of his pursuer. Who , followed the bader past the jwist a length and a l half away, tboagh bad Archer fell so "dispoged the distance could have been materially Increased Compared with tbe struggle of the previous year. Ihis finish was particularly tame, though those present had the satisfaction of feeling that they had witnessed tbe triumph of a great horse. Ormonde as almost everybody knows, subsequently won the St Leger and other races and retired from , the turf unbeaten. Thai I horse like Minting j should have be-, i foaled iii the same year as Ormonde was decidedly unlucky f r the owner of the • former If hi* arrival bad only been delayed I i 1w. Bernoulli but that is another story. It is extraordinary bow 1he standard la the matter of tbe thoroughbred varies from year to year. The last Derby dealt with in this series was that won by Ormonde, which bad as contemporaries Minting | and The Bard, either of which would have been ■ .n-lidentlv supported to win nine races out of ten. rear later there was one of the most moderate . fields in the annals of the nee This was Merry Han.pt. His vear. Merry Hampton took the lan.y of Mi. -Abington" when put up for sale .at Doncaster, a ml as that sportsman was not lacking in this WOrtds [—da he was able to gratify his ambition to become possessed of the son of Hampton and I DoU Tearaheet, the price paid beta* 3,100 guineas Merr Hampton was placed under the care of | W. O. Stevens at Compton. but shortly before the ! Epson Summer meeting was sent to Curry s estab-li-hment at Newmarket. He had not been seen out in his second season. As a matter of fact, his J lir-t race was the great Epsom event. The favorite was l colt named The Baron, which, notwithstanding the fact that he had won four races as a two-Year-old. and the Craven Stakes as ■ three-? oar-old, was reallv a moderate animal, though he held l an unbeaten record when he faced the starter at Dps in. There were eleven runners all told for the Derby, and these kept well together until Tattenham Corner bad been negotiated After Eiridsjwrd and Blanch-land, which bad held prominent positions at one , juncture, had dropped out. Merry Hamilton was ; ■eat to the front, and though The Baron did his ; best to get on terms, he was never in the picture, and John Watts mount passed the winning post four lengths in front of tbe favorite, with Hartley, which was nieivlv a handicapper. third. There was ; n .thing about this Derby to call forth any irreat en thusiasm. the spectators generally recognizing that t thev were witnessing a race among mediocrities. Both Merry Hampton and The Baron subsequently ran in the Grand Prix de Paris, in which The Huron j turned tbe tables on the Derby winner, but found ! more than his match in Tenebreuse. ridden by James Woodbuni. who is still to lie met at Newmarket. Merry Hamnb n himself ran badly, but did liottor nt Doncaster in the autumn, running second in the [ St Leger to Kilwarlin. The latter was left, but with the pace bo poor at the outset he was soon with his rivals. Late in the race Merry Hampton got shut in. but for which he might have carried off the spoils. To be continued.
