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I j | I [passing of f. v. gooch I I RECALLS SIR MARTINS BAD i LUCK IN EPSOM DERBY ! • » The death of Fredrick Vivian Gooch, one of the oldest judges of horses in England, occurred at his home at Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, April 25, at the age of 84. For a long period Mr. Gooch was a director of Richmond Horse Show and had judged horses at shows for more than half a century, both in England and America. Probably the greatest thrill in his life I was during the 1909 Epsom Derby, when I the horse Sir Martin, which he had bought and managed for the American sportsman, the late Mr. Louis Winans, fell when he looked like a winner. "But for that stroke of bad luck we would probably have robbed the Kings Minoru of victory," Mr. Gooch said afterwards. "In a later gallop with Minoru, Sir Martin made the Kings horse look like a hack." Sir Martin lived a life of great usefulness j on the turf and in the stud. He was retired I from racing with a record of twenty-two starts, of which he won twelve, earning i 4,800. He was the champion two-year-old j of 1908. He won eight of his thirteen starts 1 and earned 8,590 that season. In the Fu- j turity he was beaten by Maskette. Sir Martin was a chestnut, by imported Ogden from Lady Sterling, the dam of Sir Barton and granddam of Princess Doreen. i ! Lady Sterling was by Hanover. Sir Martin j Urns was a Matchem — Herod stallion. After his two-year-old season Sir Martin ! : was sent to England, being engaged in the ! | classics there. He went to the post in the j | Epsom Derby the favorite, the only Amer-ican-bred i horse that has ever attained that I j distinction. He fell in the running. As a , three-year-old in England he won three | them the and Dur- races, among Challenge j j ham Stakes. The following year he won the | Coronation Cup with 129 pounds up, beating, • among other good ones, Bachelors Double, Louviers and Dean Swift. He was then returned to America and repurchased by Mr. Madden, who placed him in the stud at Hamburg Place. It was Mr. Maddens belief that Sir Martin was the best horse he ever owned and he became such a favorite with the master of Hamburg that provision was made for him in Mr. Maddens will for the remainder of his days. Sir Martin was foaled in 1906. He was by Ogden, from the Hanover mare Lady Sterling. Among his progeny were Joy Smoke, winner of more than 00,000; Happy Thoughts, Thorndale, Healy and Spinach.
