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EPSOM DERBYS OF A HUNDRED YEARS. Incidents Attending the Running of tho Most Famous Race of the World. Thirteenth Article. In our last article we recalled the Derby triumph of Persimmon and the enthusiastic scenes associated therewith. The year following 1S97 came smother celebrity in Galtec More, a son of Kendal Morganette, which had a penchant for throwing Derby winners. Anyway, another of her progeny in Ard Patrick won the great race five years later. Botli were bred in County Limerick, and both belonged to Mr. John Gubbins. The merits of Galtec More were not generally recognized when he made his first essay in the Hurstbournc Stakes at Stockbridgc. In this odds were laid on Minstrel, a colt owned by the Duke of Devonshire, Galtee More being a 0 to 1 chance in a field of five. He showed distinct promise, however, by winning comfortably from Jaiiuemart, a subsequent Hunt Cup winner. Minstrel being third. Later in the month Galtee More sustained his first and only defeat as a juvenile, running a dead heat for second place with Glencally, the pair being beaten a short head by Brigg, in the Great Lancashire Breeders Stakes at Liverpool. He won the Moleeomb Stakes at Goodwood, though it was only by a neck that he defeated The Wake, but he scored comfortably in the Rous Plate at Doncaster. It was left to his final race-as a two-year-old to really establish his reputation. Lord Uosebcrys Velasquez, which had won four races off the reel and claimed an unbeaten record, was looked upon as a good thing for that race, as is evidenced from the fact that odds of 5 to 1 were laid on Jiim. Galtee More, however, was no respecter of odd-layers, and literally ran away with the prize, Velasquez finishing second six lengths away. Galtee More and Velasquez renewed acquaintance in the Two Thousand Guineas. The Middle Park Plate Form was considered too bad to be true, so far as the son of Donovan was concerned, and he was almost as good a. favorite as his conqueror. That the "Irishmans" success was no fluke was amply proved by another easy victory tin his part, the "verdict" in this ease being four lengths, -Minstrel finishing a head behind Velasquez. Galtee More had little to beat in the Newmarket fitakes. and by Derby day he was a tremendous favorite, odds of 1 to 4 being demanded by tin; layers. The field for the Epsom race totalled eleven, but the majority were without friends. True, a few-had the temerity to give Velasquez another chance, and he was second favorite at 10 to 1 against, with History next on the list at 25 to 1 against. Moreover, the nice followed the lines of the wagering o far as the leading fancier, were concerned. The contest itself bore no resemblance to that of a twelvemonth eailier. there being nothing calculated to create excitement. When the straight had been reached History hell a leatl. hut a little later Galtee More drew to the front ami, though Velasquez threw out a challenge, he was soon disposed of, the favorit" winning in convincing style by a couple of lengths. History being eight lengths behind tin- second. Following this came victories in the Prince of Wales Plate at Ascot, the Samlringham Cup at Sundown Pari:, the St. Legcr in which his opponent:; were Chelandry. St. Cloud II.. Silver Fox and Goletto, which finished as written - and the Sandown Foal Stake:;. Finally, he took part in the CilnhridgcKhirtV: inwhich he had to carry no less than 132 pounds. Despite Ihin almost impossible weight for a three-year-old, he started favorite, but the task proved beyond him, though he was anything but disgraced. With this race Galtee More bade farewell to the race course, being sold to the Russian Government for .10,000. Seven years l iter he was transferred to the Germans for .1916.sh,001. Tilings have a way of averaging themselves, and the odds-on favorite from Ireland was succeeded by a despised outsider in .leddah, whose starting price was 100 to 1 against. This fact alone rendered the Derby of 1S9! notable, for never previously had a horse won the race starting at such forlorn odds. .leddah was by Janissary Pilgrimage, and was the property of Mr. J. XV. Larnaeh. Hi? did not figure prominently as a juvenile, his debut being delayed until the autumn, when he took part in tin: Clearwell Stakes, in which lit? ran second to Orzil. He was likewise second in the Free Handicap at Hit! lloir-hloii Meeting at Newmarket to the America n -bred Meta II., this being his final appearance of the season. He was next saddled for the Craven Stakes in the following spring, and starting favorite, lie won from Schomberg, with seven others behind him. This caused him to be fancied for the Two Thousand, but here hi: could only finish fifth to Disraeli. .leddah also took part in the Newmarket Stakes, which was won by a really gootl colt in Cyllene. which was unfortunately not in the Derby. Tin: leading second-season horses had displayed anything but consistent form, and the Derby became a rare puzzle with the advance of time. The public for the most part, however, stuck to Disraeli, while Dieudonne, which had beaten the Two Thousand winner as a two-year-old and had not been seen out in the interim, iiad plenty of support. Dieudonne was. by the way, a stable-companion of .leddah. John Watts rode the former, while Madden was on the back of the outsider. Considering the mediocrity of the three-year-olds,, it was not surprising that the field for the big event was of fair dimensions, eighteen being the precise number to face the starter. When the race had seriously commenced. Batt and Wantage were the leaders, with the favorite anil Jeihlah i . . well in the front rank. A half mile from home the chance of Disraeli had disappeared, but Wantage, Batt and .leddah were still in the fighting line. The first-named promised to win at one period, but showed no inclination to struggle, and eventually the contest was practically reduced to a match between Batt and Jethlah, of which the latter finally obtained the mastery by three-parts of a length, with Dunlop, another 100 to 1 chance, third. To say that the onlookers were surprised is putting the case mildly. Still, Jeihlah was probably a bit better than most people imagined, and at Ascot he recorded another victory in the Prince of Wales Stakes, lie. however, met more than his match in the St. Leger, in which he started at li to 5 on, in Wiltlfowler, the property of Captain Greer. To be continued.
