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REFLECTIONS *y NELS0N DUNSTAN NEW YORK, N. Y., .May 31.— Americans who decry the Kentucky Derby as "a one-day ballyhoo event" would hardly relish being in England on Saturday when the one hundred seventieth running of the Derby will be presented at Epsom. On that day, England goes carnival, and that is just as true since the end of the war as it was previously. Parliament adjourns early, shops reveal the "closed for the day" sign, and by 11 oclock the entire city of London appears to be on its way to the vast Downs, some 20 miles away. It is not a legal holiday, but it is "Derby Day" and that is all that an Englishman need know. The reai estate slogan, "Buy Before Epsom, Sell Before Ascot," affects comparatively few, for Epsom is the race course of both the Lord and the Cockney, or the rank and file who regard the dusty and sweaty journey as but on incident of an adventurous day. The road reveals travelers as early as 2 oclock in the morning and, by noon, Epsom is a seething sea of humanity that enlarges with each passing minute. Glistening motor cars and peddlers carts crawl side by side and, when the passengers alight, they see gypsy caravans, merry - go - rounds, punch - and - judy shows, tub thumpers and, of course, the tipsters, who are dressed in garb similar to our burlesque actors. AAA In many Epsom Derby renewals, American owners have endeavored to win, just as they have tried to triumph in the Ascot Gold Cup, and also the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree. On four occasions, American owners have triumphed at Epsom, and that was when Pierre Lorillards Iroquois won in 1881, William C. Whitneys Volodyovski in 1901, Richard Crokers Orby "in 1907, and Herman B. Duryeas Durbar II. in 1914. Of 4hose four, however, Iroquois was the only American-bred horse to win this event. He was bred at the famous Erdenheim Stud near Philadelphia and was shipped to England as a yearling. As a three-year-old, he was a surprise to even his trainer, Jacob Pincus, when he gave Peregrine a stiff tussle in the Two Thousand Guineas. He was a much improved horse when Fred Archer rode him in the Derby and when he was returned the winner, Epsom Derby to Be Renewed on Week-End More Ballyhoo in London Than Louisville Iroquois Only American-Bred Winner Woodward to Try for Derby-Ascot Double by half a length, the now famous cable of one word, "Iropertow," was sent to America. That word to Americans meant "Iroquois — iro — , Peregrine — per — and Town Moor — tow — ." In other words, it was the first three letters in the names of the horses who finished one-two-three. When the message reached lower New York, business was suspended and the New York Stock Exchange was in an uproar for half an hour. AAA Pierre Lorillard was at the old Jerome Park race track when he received the message that Iroquois had won the Derby and, during the afternoon, cheer after cheer rang out to celebrate the first victory of an American-bred horse in this race. Fred Archer, who was the greatest jockey of his day, and many Englishmen insist the greatest of all time, was offered 0,000 by an American vaudeville manager for a series of personal appearances in this country. He did not come here, but Iroquois was brought to this country and served in stud with considerable success. Iroquois headed the American sire list in 1892, when his 34 performers won 145 races and 83,026. Among those he sired were Tammany, Ran-cocas, Mohican, White Wings and the unbeaten Helen Nichols and G. W. Johnson. He died at the Belle Meade Stud in Tennessee in 1899 at the age of 21. From that day to this, no American-bred horse has won the English Derby, but, this year, William Woodward not only has Black Tarquin in the Ascot Gold Cup, but also Brown Rover in the Derby. Just a few years ago, Brown Rovers odds were cut from 20 to 1 to 100 to 8. AAA Iroquois was by no means the only Epsom Derby winner to be brought to these shores. In fact, Diomed, the winner of the first running in 1780, was sold to an American in 1798 and, at the age of 22, was imported into Virginia, where he lived until 1808. During- those years, he implanted his blood in a line which, down through Sir Archy, Timoleon and the sturdy Boston, gave Lexington to the racing and breeding world, and the latter has often been referred to as the greatest American sire of all time. Diomed was followed by Sal-tram, John Bull, Spread Eagle, Sir Harry, Archduke, Lap Dog, Priam, St. Giles, Blue Gown, Kingcraft, Geo. Frederick and, then, after Iroquois, St. Blaise, St. Ga-tien, Ormonde — the original horse of the century, Rock Sand, Durbar n., Blenheim II., Bahram and Mahmoud. In the matter of Derby winners, we are even with foreign countries, for Omar Khayyam was the only imported horse to win our Kentucky Derby. But, while some of the imported Derby winners made no impression in this country, the entire modern breeding industry would have to be rewritten were it not for Rock Sand, Blenheim II., Mahmoud and Bahram. Bahram was later sold to a South American syndicate, and many of our breeders are of the belief that he would have been a far greater success than he has been had he remained in this country. AAA In the 169 years of its existence, the Epsom Derby has been the medium of many events which have lived on through the years. No race staged anywhere in the world has been the subject cf so many books describing its outstanding episodes. In 1844 occurred the "running rein scandal," in which one horse was substituted for another, and that was followed by one of the most sensational law suits in racing annals. Then again, in the year 1913, one of the most tragic incidents occurred at Epsom when a woman named Emily Davison, a leader of the suffragette movement, threw herself in front of the Kings horse, Amner, and shortly after that was carried off the track dead. That was the year in which Craganour was first over the finish line, with Aboyeur second, and, for the first time in history, the objection flag was raised as a result of the Derby finish. The stewards, after an hours deliberation, announced that they themselves had entered the objection and disqualified Craganour. There are a hundred and one such episodes in connection with the Derby, so it is no wonder that thousands upon thousands of Americans eagerly await the result of each renewal, along with Englishmen.
