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" ! . - 3 " " " e s n . e by y !t its ts ENGLISH HORSES IN GREAT FRENCH RACE. 1 i In these unprecedented times, when the destinies ; of no inconsiderable portion of mankind are being profoundly influenced by a war that is convulsing , Europe and other parts of the world; when, as its result, the future intercourse between nations will ; be changed and modified; and when horse racing in Groat Britain has lieen so adversely affected . and so arbitrarily restricted on its account; it is an agreeable relief to recall the happy relations that have subsisted for so long a period between this country and France in matters where the thoroughbred is concerned. Since racing took serious ; root on the other side of the Channel stimulated and fostered as it was by the infusion of British ! strains of blood an entente cordiale lias cemented the two countries. It took a gratifying and substantial form in the establishment of the Grand Prize of Paris, for which horses from the British Isles were allowed to compete a breakaway from a system that had hitherto confined French races to French-bred competitors. Since its institution a door has been thrown open in other directions, and there were, until the Avar dislocated all things in connection with the turf on "the other side," several good slakes run for of an international character. But the Grand Prize has always been by far the most important among them, and so enterprising were our French friends that it eventually ranked as the most valuable event of tlircc-year-olds in the world. Its institution had a far-reaching effect in bringing about a firm .inter-friendship, and on all hands it was heartily welcomed by those imbued with a sporting spirit. The invitation was freely responded to here, many of our leading owners swelling the list of subscribers, though the fact that the race was set for decision on a Sunday had a deterrent effect in some Quarters. More than half a century has gone by since the Grand Prize was first run in 1853, and it was an encouraging augury for English sportsmen that it should be brought to this country at the first time of asking. The whiier was Mr. Henry Saviles The Ranger by Voltigeur out of Skirmishers dam, and the owner of the colt was a man who was for many years one of the most consistent and liberal supporters of the turf, and one whose colors claimed no small share of popularity among the general body of race-goers. Though he could not rank with the best of his year, when such horses as Macaroni and Lord Clifden were running, and he had been unplaced for the Derby, the quality of his French opponents was not high, and the staying qualities inherited from his sire stood him in good stead at Paris over the mile and seven-eighths. Another English horse m Saccharometer which had fallen when running for tiie Derbv helped to uphold the reputation of tliis country, and finished third. That the Grand Frize result was no fluke The Ranger showed by his subsequent performances, for he included in the races lie Avon the Great Yorkshire Stakes, and though not proving equal to the occasion in the St. Leger at Doncaster lie took the St. Leger Stakes later at Newmarket. In 1S04 it was fully ex- pected that that great horse, Blair Athol, would follow in the footsteps of The Ranger. He had easily Avon the Derby in a brilliant field on making his first appearance in public, but to the as-touisliment of his connections was readily disposed of by Vermont for the Grand Prize by a couple of lengths. Whether he as-is upset by the journey across the water was never made quite clear, but he was equal, on his return, to winning the Ascot Triennial Stakes over a mile. In Vermont, how, ever, he was doubtless meeting a good horse, which afterwards Avon races over a distance of ground. With Gladiateur in the field, English owners were not represented at Paris in the following year, and thev Avould have had little chance with their horses in view of the quality of that son of Monnrquc, which Avill be remembered as one of the winners of the triple crown of the Two Thousand Guineas, Derbv and St. Leger, and a thoroughbred of un- common excellence. He is regarded by many as being on a par Avith such as Ormonde and others that have made indelible marks on turf history, but that is a point incapable of positive decision. He ranks with tlio best in any case, but did not pass along his excellence at tlie stud, and as a stallion must be accounted a failure. With Cevlon, in 1S0G, the Duke of Beaufort again brought tlie honors to England, and after D Ls-tournel an English representative had been beaten into third place the following year the Marquis of Hastings The Earl continued the luck of the horses sent over from this side. He aa.is a colt of good class, that had been struck out of the sensational Derbv for which his stable-companion, the brilliant Ladv Elizabeth, Avas so heavily backed, only to be unplaced, and Avas not beaten tliat season. He Avon the Grand Prize easily, and AA-as accompanied to the post by Blueskin belonging to the Mr. Savile referred to above, avIio A-as not in tlie first three. On his return home The Earl Avon the Ascot Derby and a Biennial and the St. James Palace Stakes at the same meeting, thereby demonstrating himself a horse of no mean calibre. In 1S59 Mr. Savile Avas again in tlie field Avith Rysh- Avortli, which had aspired to Derby honors without success, and to get third Avas tlie best lie could do, but he showed himself useful afterwards, and at a later period in his career, many will recollect, he as a steeplechaser carried the colors of Mr. II. now Lord Chaplin. He A-as greatly fancied for the Grand National of 1S73. but was easily beaten by Disturbance, and, though he avoii across country, lie made a somewhat ignominious exit from the course in a hurdle race that AA-as declared void at Lincoln in 74. In 1S71 the race did not take place owing to the Franco-German Avar, but the next year it again fell to Mr. Savile, avIio doubtless encouraged by his success at its inauguration. Was consistent in his support. Cre-morne Avas his Avinner, and fresh from his Derby victory, he readily disposed of eiglit opponents, one of whom Avas Heine, the Avinner of the One Thousand Guineas and Oaks, which finished third, six lengths behind Mr. Saviles colt. Cremorne. which Avas by Parmesan out of Rigolboche, had a distinguished career, for he Avas beaten but twice in eleven races as a tAvo-year-old including among his victories events like the Wood-cote Stakes, Chesterfield Stakes and Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, but only knew defeat on two occasions in his second season. He Avent under by a neck to tlie flying Prince Charlie in the Two Thousand Guineas, and the same distance separated him in the St. Leger Stakes at Newmarket from Laburnum, to whom he Avas conceding a stone. In the Derby he decisively turned the tables on Prince Charlie, and among other races that fell to his share Avero tlie Great Yorkshire Stakes and the Newmarket Derby. Cremorne did not go into another season, but he had done enough for fame, and fairly takes rank among the best of British thoroughbreds. At the stud, however, he failed to get a classic winner, though he sired a number of useful performers, of Avhom the best were Kormesse, Ridotto, Cameliard and Roj-sterer, that did good, service for Lord Rosebery. He was also sire of Voluptuary, which Avas rather fancied for the Derby of 18S1, but ran moderately. After a not very glorious career on the flat he was relegated to cross-country work, and made a name for himself as the winner of the Grand National in 18S4. In 1873 English interests in the Grand Prize Avere represented by Doncaster, the Derby winner, but, though a good one himself, he ran up against some French horses of the best class, and Avas relegated into third place by Boiard and Flageolet, of whom the last-named Avas in those days doing big things in this country for M. Lefevre, avIio raced on a liberal scale both here and in France Englands turn came again the next year Avith Trent, the property of Mr. W. It. Marshall, who-oAvned Shannon and other good horses in his time, and tliis country Avas represented also by Tomahawk, Avhich had that season A"on the Lincolnshire Handicap, and filled third place at Paris. Trent subsequently upset the odds betted on Apology for the Great Yorkshire Stakes and ran third Avhen the filly easily Avon the St. Leger a fortnight after-Avards. Trent did nothing much as a four-year-old nor at the stud either, but Doncaster will lie remembered as a brilliant Cup Avinner, and he achieved fame as a stallion, Avith the Derby win-it ner. Bend Or, to his name, thus passing along tlie brilliance of the great Stockwell family. In 1S75 Claremont second for the Derby and Camballo AA-inner of the Two Thousand Guineas A-ent over to represent this country, but Avere unplaced, and in 1870 Kisber The Derby victor had no diffi-s eulty in placing the Grand Prize to the credit of M. A. Baltazzi. The son of Buccaneer can be re-ie garded as doing duty for this country, though Hun-ic garian-bred and owned by a foreigner, for lie Avas trained at Newmarket for all his races, and as a juvenile had shown his excellence by beating Spring-il field and other good- ones for the Dewhurst Plate, Count Lagrange, who in 1877 had been successful Avitli Saint Christophe, one of his long string mostly trained in France, essayed to repeat the success Avith Insulaire in 1S7S. but had to put up with second place. The spoils AA-ent to Prince Soltykoff Avith Thurio, the parentage of whom Cremorne dis-ie putes with Tibthorpe, though there is little doubt :h the latter was his sire. Though beaten in the ie Derby, for which he was AA-ell backed, Thurio had is previously shown fair form, and developed into a ;- good stayer, winning, among other races, the Alex-e. andra Plate at Ascot as a five-year-old. In 1879 jr the horses sent over from this country Avere .a commoner named Scapegrace, Ismael, and Zut the k latter pair doing duty for Count Lagrange, but or 3r they were, unplaced, and in 18S0 came the victory st of Robert the DeA-il. How he., would have." won the l- Derby but for the injudicious riding of Rossiter has often been told, but the colt was entrusted to 1 i ; , ; . ; ! his handling at Paris, nevertheless, and there no mistake Avas made, for he Avon easily by a length. The name of "Robert" Avill long be linked with that of Bend Or, and, although the latter had the better of him at Epsom, revenge came in the St. Leger at Doncaster, and the son of Bertram ahvays beat the Duke of Westminsters colt over a distance of ground. He A-as, however, a "chance" horse, for his dam, Cast Off, necer threw another like him, and he made no name as a sire. The American-bred Foxhall followed Robert the Devil, and it does not need emphasizing that he Avas a good iiorse. Before going over to France, Bend Or had readily beaten him in the City and Suburban, and in the Grand Prize ho only got home by a head from Tristan, but his memorable "double" in tlie Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire scoring in the latter race under 120 pounds, and giving no less than thirtj--fi-e pounds to Lucy Glitters, of his own age, and nineteen pounds to Tristan is one of the best handicap performances on record. He won the co-otcd Ascot Gold Cup the folIoAving year, but on the last day of the meeting Avent doAvn before Fiddler for tlie Alexandra Tlate, his race for the Cup doubtless taking something out of him. Bruce Aveiit o-er and Avon the Grand Prize in 1SS2, after finishing fourth for the Derby, the indifferent riding of his jockey in that race giA-ing rise to the greatest dissatisfaction on the part of his owner and connections, who had regarded success as almost a foregone conclusion. In France F. Archer Avas put up, and some recompense for the Epsom disappointment was forthcoming in a half-length victory from Fenelon, a representative of the Duke of Hamilton that had shoAvn some form in this i country, and Avas backed for the Derby. Anotliei Derby Avinner in St. Blaise folloAved in the footsteps of Blair Athol by running second in 1SS3, and The Lambkin filled the same position the next year. In 1SS5 Paradox Avorthily represented this country, and that he had credentials for tlie journey he had shoAvn by Avinning the Two Thousand Guineas and only losing the Derby by a head to Melton. It Avas "by the same narroAV margin that he Avon at Newmarket in the hands of F. Archer, and to that fearless jockey he oAved his defeat at Epsom. Archer Avas again on him in the Grand Prize, but his jockey had little to do in Avinning by a length, the class of those behind him being Aery moderate. Tlie year 18S0 saw the victory of Minting, who AA-as the best of his ago bar one, and that one, Ormonde, Avas a host in himself. Much to the surprise of MattheAV DaAvson, Minting AA-as well beaten in the Two Thousand Guineas by the colt from Kingsclere, and the tale has often been told how it Avas decided, in vieAV of his obviously poor prospects of turning the tables at Epsom, to gi-e the Derby a miss and send Minting for his engagement in the Grand Trize. A very easy Avin in that race, the field for which included the Oaks winner, Miss .Tummy, spoke still further for the merits of Ormonde, in Avhose reflected light Minting may almost be said to haA-e shone as a three-year-old. He ran no more that year, but the following season Avon the Jubilee Cup at Ascot instituted in honor of Queen Victorias Jubilee, and at the same meeting had the bad luck to meet Ormonde again in the Hardwicke Stakes, when another beating .Twaited him. As a five-year-old he put in the great performance of Avinning the Kempton Park Great Jubilee Stakes Avith lOst up, and at the end of the season was sent to the stud at a fee of 150 sovereigns, at Avhich he promptly filled. After Mintings day a cloud came over the fortunes of Englisli horses, in the Grand Prize, which did not roll by for twenty years till Spearmint avoii in 1905 and it Avas something of a coincidence that Minting should enter into the pedigree of the Avinner, for he Avas the sire of Maid of the Mint, Spearmints dam. Not that no efforts Avere made to bring the race over here Avith a very good prospect of doing so on some occasions, and there is little doubt that the RaA-ensbury in 1S93 should have gone the other AA-ay. It Avas, however, only in keeping with the ill-luck of that son of Isonomy, in avIioso path Isinglass so often stood in this country. Earlier The Baron Avhose failure in the Derby brought such unexpected disappointment to Heath House had been second to Tenebreuse and CroAvberry, the runner-up to Stuart, and, folIoAving Ravens-bury, Matchbox had failed against Dolma Haghtchc, Avhile Velasquez the Derby Avinner of 1S99 ran second to Perth. Since Spearmints successful journey English horses have only been sent across on tAo occasions, in 1909 and 1910, and in the first of those years William the Fourth finished fourth to Verdun. But in 1910 a combined attack AA-as made by Bronzino, Charles OMalley, and Lemberg the Derby Avinner who Avere no mutch for the French horses, and ran respectively third, fourth, and fifth behind Nuage. The Avar, unfortunately, stopped the sequence of the Grand Prize of Paris after 1914, since AA-hen racing in France has been at a standstill, but Avith the arrival of peaceful times French and English owners Avill be more than ever anxious to renuAV friendly rivalry in a race which has A-orked for the Avelfare of the Turf in both countries, and helped largely toivards a cordial social and political understanding between them. London Sportsman. ,
