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NOTABLE ENGLISH TURFMAN Interesting Article Concerning the Late Sir Ernest Paget. llccan His Turr Career In 1875 Admirer of Jockey Geo. l-ordJiam Member of National Hunt Committee and Jockey Club. There was recently recorded in these columns notice of the death of Sir Ernest Paget, a prominent figure on the English turf fcr many years. Some time ago in the Bad-mintor Magazine under the caption "Sportsmen of Mark" the now departed Sir Ernest Paget was the subject of an interesting article by Alfred E. T. "Watson, Avhich is here reproduced : One thing to be noted about lovers of racing is that the passion does not evaporate. The subject of the present sketch. Sir Ernest Paget, furnishes a case in point, for his black, French grey sleeves, red cap colors were registered as long ago as 1S74, the only surprising thing being that they are not recorded at an earlier dale for the owner who has popularized them joined the SeAcnth Hussars in 13C0, to be transferred the following year to the Blues, and having always been a keen hunting man, knew something of sport between the flags. In a recent con-A-ersation Avith him I omitted to ask for details about jumpers he had owned and ridden, but probably none of them has contributed to the making of turf history-It Avas in the year 1S75 that Sir Ernest made a Aery modest beginning as an owner under Jockey Club rules. At that period a certain T. Smith had a plater named Shakespeare, a son of The Bard needless to say an earlier Bard than the one Avho became celebrated in the days of Ormonde and to this one, Shakespeare being then a two-year-old, the aspirant to turf honors took a fancy. T. Stevens, a trainer of the period, Avho Avas remarkably successful in his dealings, chiefly Avith second and third-rate horses, claimed Shakespeare and passed him cn to Sir Ernest, for Avhom he soon Avon the Dodington "Welter at Bath, entered to be sold for 70. This was at any rate a successful start, and Shakespeare earned a little soon afterwards by running second to Mr. Bushs Crossbow, ridden by Fred Archer. Constable, a jockey of Avhom Lord Bose-bcrry entertained a high opinion, Avon the Mickleham Stakes at Epsom on Shakespeare, beating Tom Cannon on a three-year-old called Beechmast, and lie won the Sutton Plate at Sutton Park. Horses were entered to be sold for all sorts of Aarying sums Avhen Shakespeare Avas performing. In the Sutton Plate the sale price Avas 80, those entered to be sold for half as much haing a seven pound allowance. Shakespeare Avas trained ty E. Weever at Burton-on-the-IIill. XSEFUIi YETEltAX LACEMAX. The immediate successors of Shakespeare were of small account until in the year 1SS3 Sir Ernest became possessed of a more than useful old horse named Laceman, a son of Honiton and an unnamed mare by Knight of St Patrick Noisette. Laceman had belonged to John Nightingall, for whom he had Avon a number of races Avhich had by no means exhausted his capacity, and at the Epsom Spring meeting, ridden by Fred Archer, he dead-heated Avith a three-year-old named Auctioneer, the young one in recepit of a couple of stone, among those behind being Chcvronel, on Avhom Archer and other jockeys of the period so often came to the front, a useful three-year-old called Antler, ridden by S. Loates, and Lord Boseberys Narcissa who the previous year had created a sensation by beating Gehemniss a head for the Fern Hill Stakes at Ascot I well remember this incredible race. Odds of S to 1 and more Avere laid on the Oaks AVinner, ridden by Tcm Cannon, Avho had originally owned her and had been on her back in all her races. Against Xarcissa 20 to 1 was on offer. Geheimniss, however, jumped the road and lost her stride. Immediately after passing the post she Avas in front again, but a A-ery short head behind at "the place Avhere they give the money," as Jewitt, a trainer of the period, used to say. Sir Ernest was usually fortunate in getting the best jockeys, and in the Egmont Plate at the Epsom Summer Meeting Tom Cannon Avas on Laceman, Archer riding Lord AVilliam Bersefords Reputation, which beat Sir Ernests old horse, third place being filled by Sir George Chetwynds Hornpipe, Charles "Wocd up, those behind including Narcissa again, a frequent Avinner called Tyndrum, Antler; among the jockeys were John Osborne, George Barrett, Martin, J. Snowden, Luke, and "Speedy Payne," as he was called. Payne was associated with a horse called Cranberry, who Avas A-ery awkward at the start, and the story went I do not know whether there is any truth in it that mere than once he had jumped onto the horses back just as the flag fell. This seems incredible, and one can only imagine what would hae been the feelings of Cranberrys backers, wondering Avhether the circus trick would come off. Laceman had another try next day in the race immediately preceding St. Blaises Derby. This time Archer Avore the black, French gray sleeves, red cap, and started faAorite at just a shade over evens, but Martin, on Sir Frederick Johnstcnes Princess Caroline, was half a length too good for him. At the delightful Stockbridge Meeting Laceman, riddden by Arthur Coventry, was beaten a length and a half for the Arlington Plate by Alfred Days Mrs. Langtry. ridden by Hatcher, a jockey Avho at times disported himself on a not particularly noble animal of Avhcm I Avas part owner. Laceman scored at Four Oaks Park in the 500 Prince of "Wales Plate, but in the Prince of AVales Cup at Kcmpton Park, ridden this time by John "Watts, he was beaten by T. E. Walkers Bout, the lot bo-hind them including several Avcll-known animals. JtECALLS T03r CANNONS "VICTORY. One of these Avas Sigmophone, bred and owned by Tom Cannon,- and winner of the Richmond SUakcs at Goodwood, in which race ho had followed on in the list of Avinners behind such great ones as Janette, AVhecl of Fortune, Bend Or, Bal Gal, Dutch Oven, and immediately before Duke of Richmond, Avhc Avas considered good enough to be matched Avith St Simon. I recall Tom Cannons A-ic-tory. He won looking from left to right after passing the distance, and Avhen I asked him Avhy he was altering his. usual style, fcr it Avas his habit to stick to the Avork at hand and not gaze about him, he explained that there Avere several smart ones in the race, Rookery, Britomartis, Adriana, Export among them, and he Avas glancing about to see why it was that none of them Avas coming to challenge him. Sigmophone was far too good for his opponents that day ; unfortunately he went Avrong in his Avind. Laceman ran for an exciting celebration of the Stewards Cup, ridden this time by "Webb. Sir George Chct-wynd Avon Avith Hornpipe, ridden by Wood, beating Archer on Geheimniss and George Barrett on Goldfield, others in the race being Vibration, Energy, Lucerne, Acrostic, Rookery, Atalanta, and a filly bred by Tom Cannon called Reine Blanche, a daughter of Rotherhill, originally called "Rather 111," a shameful pun which was speedily repented of and the name changed. It aviII be seen that Laceman Avas a good purchase, for later in the season he carried off four races running, the 1,000 Hartington Plate at Derby ridden by Fred Archer the Sandown Autumn Cup. in Avhich he beat his old opponent Rout; a week later the Quorn Plate at Leicester Archer again in the saddle ; and the Alexandra Cup at Four Oaks, Archer once more riding. Sir Ernest, .when I was talking to him the other day, Avisely declined to make comparisons between the trainers and jockeys of the Laceman period and those of the present. I asked him if ho thought .it Avere true that our trainers, as is alleged, pay more attention to individual horses, studying their peculiarities more closely, than their predecessors Avere Avont to do. I do not think it is so. Some of the old trainers may ha-e gone more by Avhat is described as "rule of thumb," but they were exceptions. There Avere, I believe, more full boxes at Danebury Avhen I knew it intimately than in any other stable, and it used to amaze me Avhen Tom Cannon had been away riding for a Aveek to go round the stables Avith him and hear the questions he asked of his head lad, Olding, and the boys Avho "did" the horses. He Avould inquire if one Avho had been shoAving symptoms of delicatte appetite had eaten up, if another was going quite soundly, if a third had coughed at all, and so on throughout the different yards. As regards jockeyship Sir Ernest is enthusiastic, as all good judges I have spoken to have been on the subject of George Fordhams supreme mastery of his art. I did not ask for comparisons. It is wisest to make the best of what is arailable. Chandler at this period was training for Sir Ernest, Avho does not think that the horses could have been treated Avith more discretion. Chandler certainly understood the peculiarities of all his charges. I am afraid the poor fellow Avas not appreciated nevertheless, for it will be remembered that the Avorld was not going Avell Avith him and he cut his throat. TKAPEZOID ANOTHER GOOD ONE. Another Avell-known horse which carried the colors was Trapezoid, a chestnut son of Trappist and Therapeutics, a two-year-old in 1S30. When he first came out, as he did for the Tathwell Plate at Lincoln on the first day of the season, he was the property of Lord Randolph Churchill, and started second fa-orite, entered to h-e sold for 100. The race went to Mr. G. Gordons Young Hermit, ridden by A. White, who was in the saddle on The Sailor Prince when he just beat Archer on St. Mirin in the sensational Cambridgeshire of 1S8G. Trapezoid then won a seller ac the Craven meeting, ridden by Tom Cannon, from Mr. de Rothschilds Prismatic, and on the occasion of his third appearance, for the Badminton Plate at Bath, was the property of Sir Ernest Here he was second to the favorite, Tittle Tattle, second again for the Ranmore Plate to Colonel Norths Nitrate Queen, and then won the Palace Plate at Alexandra Park, following on at another meeting at the same place by winning another Palace Plate; and it is an odd circumstance that Mr. T. Collins Eventide, which was second to him, should have been second aagin when Trapezoid won the Chaplin Nursery at Lincoln. Two-year-olds used to run two-mile races in those days, and as now seems remarkable very frequently, I think, more often than not, beat their seniors, though as a rule these successful ones Avere Aery little good later in life. Happily this was not the case with Trapezoid. As a two-year-old he won a two-mile Queens Plate at the Derby November meeting of 1890, six going to the post, five of them two-year-olds, the exception being Sir Simon Lockharts Rinovata. Two-year-olds, it may be observed, generally won the Feather Plate at the Newmarket Houghton meeting, run over the Cesarewitch course. In the year we are discussing there were twelve starters for this Feather Plate of whom no fewer than ten were two-year-olds. Trapezoid came out again at Lincoln as a three-year-old, won at Bath, and distinguished himself, though he did not Avin, in the Stonehenge Plate at Salisbury. This race was taken by Mr. Ronny Moncreiffes Buccaneer, Avhich was to win an Ascot Cup, a bad third being Mr. C. Shrubbs Insurance, which was to win a Cesarewitch, Trapezoid giving Insurance nine pounds and beating him many lengths. Buccaneer was giving Trapezoid three pounds. Sir Ernest also Avon the Alington Plate at Stockbridge with him, from the Prince of Wales Tcdworth, and Trapezoid Avon the Pevcril of the Peak at Derby, ridden by George Brown, who, if I remember correctly, Avas killed at Epsom, one of the very rare occasions on which a jockey lias lost his life. Warlaby, a North-country horse which did good service, Avas second in this Derby race, behind him being Rinovata, Enniskillen, Porridge, Rathbeal the first winner of the valuable National Breeders Foal Stakes at Sandown, at that time, however, not as Aaluable as it subsequently became and Comedy, which landed a big coup for the Cambridgeshire. As a four-year-old Trapezoid came Aery near to doing what Corn Sack did so recently. In receipt of three pounds, he ran second for the City and Suburban to Buccaneer; others in the race being Cuttlestone, a good animal, Nunthorpe, winner of the Jubilee, Sainfoin, Continued on twelfth paje. NOTABLE ENGLISH TURFMAN Continued from third page. winner of the Derby, Miss Dollar, winner of the Duke of Yorks Stakes, her trainer having so little idea of her chance that he did not go to Kempton to see her run, and her owner, Mr. Wingrove Smith, saddled her himself, "throwing away" a pony at 50 to 1. Trapezoid was third for the Babraham to that lucky purchase of Lord Penrhyns Thessalian, which, bought out of a selling race for a big price, turned out a very cheap purchase. After this Trapezoid was put by for the Ccsarewitch and started second favorite at 8 to 1, the actual favorite, Burnaby, 7 to 1, winning. Sir Ernests colt unplaced, and his only subsequent success was in the Club Open Welter at Warwick, ridden by Morny Cannon. WINS IJKOOKLYX OF 190D. Sir Ernest won the Brocklesby of 1909 with Dalnacrag, a son of Mr. Wingrove Smiths Wolfs Crag, winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap in 1893. Dalnacrag took the Tatten-ham Plate at the Kpsom spring meeting, but, like the majority of Brocklesby winners, did not do very much afterward, though he cannot be set down as a failure, seeing that he carried off four minor races the next season, three of them consecutivey. For some time little was seen of the colors, but last year there was a revival. Fair Helen, a daughter of The White Knight and Helen Blair, did not quite do what was expected of her, though she won the Bradgate Park Nursery at Doncaster, the race following Keysoes Leger, and she was second, beaten a neck, for the Osmaston Nursery, giving the winner 16 pounds; second also for the Wilbraham Plate, beaten three parts of a length. But Paragon has proved himself a real good colt. This son of Radium and the late Lord Falmouths unbeaten Quintessence: was as a I two-year-old only out of the first three in j one of his six races. He led off by following1 Lampetia home for the Saxham Two-Year-Old Plate at the Newmarket Second July, was third to Galroy and Marcia Blanche for the Hurst Maiden Plate, won the International Two-Ycar-Old Plate at Kempton, also tne Devonshire Nursery from Plymouth Rock, ran fifth for the Suffolk Nursery at ! the Newmarket Second October, carrying top i i weight, S stone 9 pounds, and failed by a i neck to give Little Boy 15 pounds in the Chesterfield Nursery at his owners favorite meeting. His good second to Altenby for Newmarket Stakes shows that he would have an excellent chance for the Derby if he had been engaged. Corn Sack, which had only won the Stewards Stakes at the Curragh in five attempts in 191S, did much better as a three-year-old after passing in Sir Ernests possession, for after an outing at York, when apparently not expected, he beat a large field in a canter for the Cleveland j j Three-Year-Old Handicap at Doncaster, and at his third and last attempt very easily won the Markeaton Handicap at Derby, where the railway men always follow the colors, beating Scatwell a length and a half at even weights. Mr. Gilpin, as most readers will be aware, has lately had charge of the horses and assuredly they could not be in better hands. There could not have been a more exciting City and Suburban than that in which Corn Sack beat Square Measure by a short head, with Furious, winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap, only a neck behind ; in the Two Thousand Guineas, as already noted. Paragon finished third to Tctratema and Allen by, beating Orpheus, Lacrosse, Archais, Silvern which had beaten Tetratema at Newbury and other horses of reputation. It is lamentable that he cannot try his luck for the "Blue Riband." NATIONAL JIUT OFFICIAL. As long ago as 1SS0 Sir Ernest Paget was elected to the National Hunt Committee, and four years later to the Jockey Club. He was a steward of the former body when the so-called "open ditch," which created so much 1 controversy, was first introduced. It was denounced as an unfair fence which horses i could not be expected to jump. Nowadays I during the cross-country season we see it constantly cleared by platers entered to be sold for50, and creating no demand for themselves when they have accomplished the exploit twice in the course of their two-mile journey. A nickname may generally be accepted as evidence of popularity. Sir Ernest is known to his friends as "Jacko" Paget, and the origin of the title had always puzzled me much until light was lately thrown upon it. When Sir Ernest was in the Guards a monkey was attached to the regiment. The little creature had a habit of running up a tree opposite to the barracks and refusing to come down. No one but Sir Ernest could tempt the animal from its perch, but it never failed to obey his call and he was called "Jacko" accordingly. It may seem strange that a Guardsman should take sedulously to business in the capacity of railway director. Sir Ernest, however, joined the board of the Midland Railway as long ago .as 1S70, was elected chairman in 1890, and filled that important office for eleven years, retiring in consequence of an illness. It is his pride that he never allowed racing to interfere with his duty to shareholders. For many years he acted as chairman of the Notts Quarter Sessions, and has commanded a regiment of Yeomanry. He has never owned quite such good horses as those he had in later years, and it can only be added that everyone who has the interests of the sport at heart will cordially wish that he may get some better still. One can well imagine what a reception would await him if he won the Derby, for j no owner is more popular and respected.
