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BLUE RIBAND OF THE TURF It !s Epsom Derby This Year-New Derby Thing of the Past. Analysis of the Prominent Candidates American Owners Represented. Tim Epsom Derby of this year closed July 24, 1017, Willi 231 entries. No Epsom Derby lias been nr:i since Durbar won it in 1914, the substituted New Derby at Newmarket taking its place while the Great War was in progress. Epsom being made the seat of a military encampment. But witii the steadfastness characteristic of the English, entries in the Two Thousand Guineas, One Thousand Guineas. Epsom Derby. Epsom Oaks, Doneaster St. I.fger and other great races, closed at the customary times, even though it was known to all concerned these races would be declared off while the war continued. It thus befell that when the war did come to a close all the great races referred to were in readiness for restoration to and decision over the tracks to which they historically belong. Tin re foiv it is the Epsom Derby this year, and the New Derby is a thing of the past. Of the two-year-olds which won distinction in English racing last year the great majority are iimong the eligibles to the world-famous "Blue Uiband of the Turf," the names of The Panther, Iplendid Spur. Manilardo brother to Gay Cru- idtr. Itayuda. Buchan, Dominion, Stefan the Great, Rizzio and Grand Parade standing out conspicuously as examples of public form. Quite naturally the "dark" division is larger and has many well bred and well thought of three-year-olds which have never started. It is a long time until Derbv thix. will arrive, nest. J. uqe., ami .prioc to -thattJnie j tin-re wilt "be developments from this, division. " King George has three nominations, Copenhagen, by Picton Princess Dagmar; Pesaro. by Bayardo Per.5opolis, and Viceroy, by The Tetrarch Sweet Vernal. All three raced last year, but did not distinguish themselves, although Viceroy showed sKed and was three times placed in his "six races. From this side of the big water A. K. Macombcr linide thirteen nominations, but there is not the slightest prospect any of them will be sent back to the land of their birth to take part in the big race. If any American owned horse is to be sent to the post it will be one or both of W. K. Vnnderbilts colts, Brumnrdo, by Maintenon Brume, and MeKinley, by Macdonald II. Mrs. Despard. Both have raced well in Spain and France? and are above the average in form. Several French nominees are quoted as possible contestants; but on the whole the probability is that the Derby of this year will be strictly a domestic and not an international race. What the English long range opinion of the race is may. in a measure. Ik? gleaned from the following analysis by "Vigilant" in London Sportsman of January 1: TIME FOR A DERBY PHOPHECY. "It is customary at this season, not wisely, perhaps, to indulge in a Derby prophecy. Only a few short weeks ago the prospect of getting back to Epsom in time for the W carnival seemed hopelessly remote, but happily there came a turn in the tide, which now flows steadily in the direction of prosperity, and unless something untoward occurs in the meantime there will be the customary crowd ai the Surrey Downs on June 4. The "official" tip given by the Free Handicap was The Panther, ::nd doubtless the handicappers opinion is shared by many of the public, but it is clear that he did not regard the colt as a two-year-old of outstanding merit, since Grand Parade and GuIIoikt Eight were weighted within two pounds of him and Paper Money within three, while Stefan the Great was in receipt of four pounds and Polygno-tus and Iron Hand of six pounds. Of these Polygno-tns and Iron Hand have no place in the entry, while Galloper Light is disqualified by the death of his nominator. "Judged on their public running there can be little lietween The Panther and Galloper Light. The Panther is unquestionably a fine horse that may le included in the category of good big uns, and if lie goes on ail right there must be room for more than average improvement during the winter, while Manser may bo relied on to do him justice. The colt inherits much of the character of his sire. Tracery, but I shall want to see him do more than he has yet accomplished before admitting him to be of the same high class; still, it is something in his favor that he had a light season last year, having run only three times, twice successful, and once when beaten on his debut by Paper Money. His last performance was his best, when he beat Bayuda by three parts of a length, with Galloper Light, from which he was receiving ten pounds, beaten nearly three lengths. "Grand Parade, a black son of Orby, can hold bis own for looks with Sir A. Blacks crack, and his form will bear a lot of inspection, for he won his first five races in fine style, and when at last beaten was just off a hurried journey from Ireland, which may have left bin- a little stale, though he made a bold fight against Glanmerin and Knight ft the Air with the worst of the weights. "Messrs. Clark and Robinson, who own Knight of the Air. are fortunate possessors of another candidate in Stefan the Great, which may prove his xuierior, providing he can stay, and I know of no valid reason why he should not. His debut was deferred until October, which is certainly nothing against him, and I must confess to a great liking for this good looking gray, which is one of the sober, indolent sort that throws nothing away when galloping, and comes out to win his races in faultless style. His defeat of Knight of BIyth, Dominion, Lord Basil and the rest in the Middle Park Plate created a highly favorable impression on most good judges, and personally I have great hopes of him, as, apart from his established merit, he struck me as a fine, good looking colt that, with ordinary luck, must train on, and it is to his advantage that, all being well with him, he or Knight of the Air will have the valuable assistance in the saddle of Carslake. "Maj. Astor has. two strings to his bow in Buchan rnd Lord Basil, and, bearing in mind his performances, it seems strange that the former should have been omitted from the Free Handicap, the only inference being thnt it was an oversight. Which is the better of the two I cannot say, but I incline to the Sunstar colt, which, in spite of being a first foal, has plenty of size and beautiful iiinllty, the only thing against him being that he had one or two severe finishes, which may have taken some of the steel out of liim. It. Colling rode him in his races last year, but that clever young jockey is growing so fast that he may find it impossible to go to scale at 12C pounds next season. Taylor has effected so much improvement in Iiis two-year-olds of recent years that one expects much of him, and passing Bayuda, which is more likely to await an easier task in the Oaks, there is still a particularly fine horse to consider in Manilardo, a brother to Gay Crusader, that lias run but once, when, though beaten by Polygnotus and Silonyx, he shaped like-a race horse, and of the maidens in the Derby I should unhesitatingly select him as the most promising, though there is much to be said in favor each of Sardis and Racket. I believe Rizzio also strangely ignored in the Free Handicap to be a. horse of great possibilities, unless, indeed, there be some untoward cause to account for his retirement after winning the Exeter Stakes. There will be some cheering if he follows in the footsteps of Ladas, Sir Visto and Cicero and wins for Lord Rosebery his fourth Derby, but my present fancy is Stefan the Great rather than The Panther, while expecting much from Manilardo, which lielongs to an exceptionally lucky owner, and Golden Orb is another maiden of exceptional promise."
