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SOME OF THE FAMOUS ENGLISH RACES. Reminiscences of Notable Events in British Turf Annals and a Bit of Their History. Yolum«s could be written of the romance attached to British turf events in the eighteenth and .lineteeiit.i centuries. Take the Ascot races, for instance, at which royalty and the elite foregathered in July. They were really founded by Queen Anne in 1711. and kings and queen have been more or less intimately associated with them ever I ince. K: en Queen Victoria, who was little given to horse racing, had many recollections of Asrot. She went there first as a young girl in 1S34. uniuH on that occasion gave 0 to the winning jockew.i little Bell, and when she did so asked the boy # weight. "Please, maam." he answered. "mastTji says as how I must never tell my weight to BBjjpQ body." It is said that when Persimmon won the Ascot Gold Cap for King F.ilward there were scenes of "nparalleleil enthusiasm. But even these did not equal the excitement in 1881, when George, prime of Wales later George IV., won the most sensational race ever witnessed on Ascot Common. .n untold amount had been staked, and when Chifney. on the princes Baronet, snatcheil a victory by half a head, with five other horses running neck and neck to within a few yards of the winning post, the enthusiasm of the 40.000 spectators was Isuindless. "I made fourteen baronets last week." siid George HI. to his son when congratulating him. "but your Baronet is worth all of mine ;m together." ll was the third Duke of Richmond who started the Goodwood races in 1S4HI — a meeting which rivaled Ascot in its attraction of royalty and society people, one of the most memorable races for the Goodwood Cup was that of 1830. when King William IV. entered three horses, which came in first, second and third for that event. How the Derby Got Its Name. Ascot and St. Leger excepted, the Derby is the oldest classical event on the English turf, the first race being run iu 17S0. It was a Catitain Burgoyne — who amazed society iu 1743 by eloping with l.ady Charlotte Stanley, the daughter of the Karl of Derby — who really founded the race. He purchased an estate near Ianstead Downs to stimulate the native breeding of horses and instituted the famous Derby Stakes in 17SO. How many have wanted to win the Derby and been disappointed? More than one Ixird Derby would have given worlds for the honor. If was bard Glasgows ambition in a long life, but he only got aecead eaaee. One of the most successful Derby winners was probably John Gully, the man who rose from the prize ring to the house of commons. In 1888 he won 8088,888 over his horses. St. Giles anil Margrave, when they won the Derby ami St. 1 eger. The St. Leger. the second oldest horse rai iug eveut ia the country, was founded four years before the Derby. It takes its name from the famous Deaeaster sportsman. Colonel St. Leger really pronounced "Sillinger." although it is generally pronounced as spelled by the majority. It is a race which never fails to arouse enthusiasm iu the north, and iu the days liefore railways, laborers living fifty miles around would save up their shillings weeks before, walk to Domaster. see the race and walk home again. Many mi morable St. Legem 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. 1,888 to 5— won. Two Thousand Over a Century Old. More than one hundred years ago the race for the Two Thousand Guineas, which King Edward won in 1888, was instituted, the year after the founding of the Chester flip. The title of the former race originated from the fact that it was established as .1 sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, and the subscribers numbered twenty: while the One Thousand Guineas had the same conditions with ten subscribes, and was therefore called the One Thousand Guineas. One of the greatest races iu con -iiction with the Two Thousand was when Donovan was considered such a certa:nt.v that adds or • iuhty five to twenty were laid on him in a field of nine. Tom Cannon, howexer. was riding a bad-empered horse named enthusiast, which maid only go when he liked. And he did on that day, end Cannon pulled off the race by a head. Roth the Ce— T€ witch and the Grand National wore founded seventy-eight years ago. in which year also the Caml mlgeshire was established. The KclipscA Stakes is a race of more modern origin, being es-™ tablished in 1888. When the Sanilowu Park race i nmiuittc" announced that they intended to give :i fortune at once in the shape of $.".1.0011. thus eclipsing all previous prizes, no small sensation was i rented iu the racing world. The distinction of riding the winner of the first 888,888 belongs to Tom Cannon, who brought Bendigo home in a canter. The race for the Eclipse Stakes of MBS was uemoi-able on account of the fact that the late Duke of Westminster entered his bene, Orinc. a pronounced favorite for the Derby that year, but was reported to have been got at. so did not run. He ultimately won the Eclipse Stakes by a neck.
