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ROMANCES OF FAMOUS RACES. 1 t i Some Sensational Turf Events of England in Which 1 i Royalty Has Figured. 1 1 One of the most interesting features of English classical turf events is their age. Indeed, it is necessary to go back to tin? beginning of the -i-igl.teei.tlt and nineteenth centuries for the date of ; the origin of some of them, anil many volumes could still be written concerning their romance and i history. ; Take the Ascot races, for instance, at which i royalty and the elite foregather in July. They were really founded by Queen Anne in 1711, anil kings and queens have been more or less intimately associated with them ever since. Even Queen Victoria, who was little given to horse racing, had many recollections of Ascot. She went there first as a young girl in 1834, and on that occasion gave a ten pound note to the winning jockey, little Bell, and when she did so, asked the boy bis weight. "Please, maam," he answered, "master says as how I must never tell my weight to anybody." When Persimmon won the Ascot Gold Cup for the Prince of Wales, who afterwards became King Edward, there were scenes of unparallcd enthusiasm. These were repeated the year when Milium won the Derby for tl.e king. But even these did not. equal the excitement in 1801 when George Prince of Wales later George IV., won the most sensational race ever witnessed on Ascot Common. Five niillion dollars was said to have? been staked, and when Chifi.ey on the princes Baronet, snatched a victory by half a head, witli five other horses running neck and neck to within a few yards of the winning post, the enthusiasm of the 10,000 spectators was boundless. "I made fourteen baronets last week," said George III., to his son when congratulating him, "but your baronet is wortli all mine put together." It was the third Duke of Richmond who started the Goodwood races in 1S00 a meeting which has rivaled Ascot in its attraction of royalty and society people. One of the most memorable races for the Goodwood Cup was that of 1S30. when King William IV. entered three horses, which came in first, second and third for that event. Ascot and the St. Leger excepted, the Derby is the oldest classical event on tl.e English turf, tl.e first race having been run in 17SO. It was a Captain Bnrgoyni! who amazed society in 1743 by eloping with Lady Charlotte Stanley, the daughter of tl.e Karl of Derby who really founded the race. He purchased an estate near Banstead Downs to stimulate the native; breeding of horses, and instituted tl.e famous Derby Stakes in 1780. How many have wanted to win the Derby and have? been disappointed. More; than one Lord Derby would have; given worlds for tl.e honor. It was Lord Glasgows ambition in a long life, but he onlv got second once. The dukes of Beaufort and Hamilton took nearly all the other classics, but not the Derby; and so the list of men who have spent fortunes in striving for success in this historical race might be prolonged. One of the most successful Derby winners was probably John Gully, tlie man who rose from the prize ring to the House of Commons. In 1830 he won 00,000 over his horses, St. Giles and Margrave, when they won the Derby and St. Leger. He invested much of his money in colleries, and by this means is said to have doubled his fortune. The St. Leger, the second oldest horse racing event in this country, was founded four years before the Derby. It takes its name from the famous Doncaster sportsman. Colonel St. Leger really pronounced "Silllugor," although it is generally pronounced ns spelled by the majority. It is a race which never fails to arouse enthusiasm in the north, and in the days before railways, laborers living fifty miles away would save up their shillings weeks before, walk to Doncaster, see the race, and walk home again. Many memorable St. Legers have taken place, including two dead heats, while on one occasion a horse named Theodore, against which the odds had been quoted at 1,000 to a walking stick or, officially 1,000 to 5 One hundred years ago the race for the Two .Thousand Guineas, which the late King Edward won some years ago, was instituted, the year after the founding of the Chester Cup. I lie title of the former race originated from the fact that it was stablislied as a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, and the; subscrilHrs numbered twenty, while the One Thousand Guineas had the same conditious 1 t i 1 i 1 1 ; i ; i with the ten subscribers and was therefore called the One Thousand Guineas. One of tin; greatest races in connection with the Two Thousand was when Donovan was considered such a certainty that odds of 85 to 21 were laid on him in a field of nine. Tom Canon, however, was riding a bad-tempered horse named Enthusiast, which would onlv go when he liked. And he did like on that day, and Cannon pulled off the race by a head. Both the Cesarewitch and the Grand National were founded seventy years ago. in which year also the Cambridgeshire was established. Tl.e Grand National was first run by a syndicate of sportsmen who hail acquired the lease of the grandstand and race; course at Aintree, where from time immemorial the Liverpool raee-s hael been held. This syndicate decided on a steeplechase on a grander scale than hail hitherto been nttemiptcil; hence the name. Granel National. This race has been notable for the number of gentliinen riders who have; suce-ccde-d in bringing their mounts first past the; post, and there are still old sportsmen in the north, who remember the; race; of 18-18. when John Iirown, the; well-known prize fighter, bet Captain Alleyue that he would be; in the feiurth field from home; when the winner passe-el the post. But when liechers Brook was reached the secimd time his horse, whieIi was palpably unfit, came; to dire grief, anil gave; the venturesome pugilist such a toss as lost him his senses for the; time being, as well as his wager. The; Eclipse; Stakes is a race of more modern origin, having been established in 1SSIS. When the Saiiilown Park race committee announced that they intended to give; a fortune at once in the shape; of 0,000, thus eclipsing all previous prizes, no small sensation was created in the; racing world. The distinction of riding the; winner of the first tin thousand pounder belongs to Tom Cannon, who brought Biinlige. hemic in a canter. The race for the Eclipse Stakes of 1S92 was memorable on aeceiunt of the faet that tl.e; late; Duke of Westminster entered his horse Orme. which was a premeumcccl favorite for tl.e Derby that year, but was reported to have been got at. so elid not run. He ultimately won the Eclii.se Stakes by a neck.
