BLAIR ATHOL'S DERBY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2715, 21 December 1882, Page 3

BLAIR ATHOL'S DERBY.

AN UNWRITTEN PAGE OF TETBF HISTOBT. The following strange story in connection with one of the most famous races ever run over the historic downs at Epsom, is told by Mr Corbett, of the "Sporting Times":—

"When General Peel won the Two Thousand, Jackson and Steel, the leviathan bookmakers, who invariably followed the fortunes of Lord Glasgow and Tom Dawson, won a great stake, and they also stood very heavily on the horEe for the Derby, for which they had taken all the long prices, the agreement between the confederates was that Blair Athol, whom in reality Jackson owned, should not run for the Derby, so that the way might be cleared for General Peel. Jackson, however, had neither the cool mind, calm judgment, nor firm purpose of Steel, and was incapable of great enterprises. His confederate fearing that if Jackson went to the Newmarket betting rooms, elated as he was on the night of the Two Thousand, he would commit some act of folly, begged of him not to leave his lodgings, which were over a china shop in the High street. Jackson consented, provided Steel and his partner would come and sit with him, as he could not bear to be alone. They remained with him till nearly midnight, and when all was, as they thought, safe, they left. Crossing the road they met someone they knew, and presently Peech, looking round saw Jackson skulking under a window so as to escape observation, on his way to the White Hart. Steel uttered an expression of disgust and determined to wash his hands of such a weak confederate. Jackson went to the White Hart, got drunk, and being bantered about Blair Athol backed him to win some thousands, and as there was no getting out the horse was obliged to run. He was saddled at Tottenham Corner, and galloped down course, led by Caller Ou. In the race General Peel overpowered his jockey, and taking the lead at the mile post made play at a terrific pace. Blair Athol, not being used to a racecourse, did not understand the business, and for a long way he ran very green. Warming to his work, however, he overhauled General Peel at the Grand Stand, and clearing him in a few strides, gained a most brilliant victory, while Jackson and Steel netted only about a fifth of what they would have won if he had not started. The scheme, as told us by one of the principal actors, was this : We had won a hatful of money on General Peel for the Two Thousand, and we stood a raker for the Derby. This, of course, we should have woa had Blair Athol not run. General Peel having won the Two Thousand and Derby in a canter, people would have said he was one of the biggest wonders ever known, and he would have been an evenmoney chance for the St. Leger. We should have 'laid' him all the summer, and we should have had Blair Athol to ourselves, as, after not running in the Derby. the public would not have stood him, more particularly in face of General Peel. We should then have begun our commission atabout 50 to 1, and cleared the Ring otit of every shilling they had, and won more at one co« p. than any dozen men had done previously. All this was upset through lanksou getting drunk at the White Hart."