THE DERBY OF 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 398, 1 August 1868, Page 3

THE DERBY OF 1868.

(From the Daily News.) With little or no loss of time the toilets of the 18 competitors assembled in the paddock were completed. Lady Elizabeth having gone through that performance at Mr Sherwood's, " The j Warren." They then paraded past the Stand, aud having reached the distance they wheeled round, and commenced their preliminary canter, led by Paul Jones, Rosicrucian, Green Sleeve, and Blue Gown, several lengths in advance of Lord Glasgow's colt, Orion, Forest King, and the Baron's pair, a long way in whose rear came Franchise, the Dnke of Newcastle's two, and, Samson, each eliciting special remarks as they swept by. Pace, on Hearing the enclosure, faltered in his stride, and immediately after Aldcroft was seen endeavouring to stop him, when it became apparent that lie had broken down, and upon his dismounting and returning to the enclosure it was found that the back tendons of his off fore-leg had given way. This sensation, however, soon gave way to the more important business on hand, the progress of the others to the starting-post, which, having been reached, Mr M 'George speedily got them iv order, and, with the exception of three or four failures, occasioned by Lady Elizabeth refusing to join her horses, he despatched them in excellent time and close company. When fairly in their places the running was taken up by Cap-a-pie, having Orion on his left, the pair being followed by Speculum, See Saw, Blue Gown, Paul Jones, Franchise, King Alfred, and Green Sleeve in a body,- the latter lying on the inside, pulling double. To these succeeded Suffolk, Rosicrucian, Forest King, and Cock of the Walk, heading the next division, in the rear of whom were seen the colours of Samson, Viscount, St. Ronan, and Lady Elizabeth. In these positions they ran a quarter of a mile, when Orion headed Cap-a-pie and assumed the command. Speculum, Blue Gown, and his stable companion, Green Sleeve, at the same time were seen gradually nearing the front, followed by .Paul Jones and St. Ronan, the latter having quitted his rearward position, which was still occupied by Viscount, Samson, and Lady Elizabeth, the favourite at this early period of the race appearing unable to act, and as they came through the " bushes," Fordham, to the alarm of her backers, was seen "hard upon her," but without mending her position, and as they reached the mile post she was hopelessly out of the race, so far as any chance she now possessed. Orion still held his prominent position in the van as they descended the hill, Cap-a-pie lying second, Blue Gown third, King Alfred fourth, with Speculum, Franchise, Paul Jones, Green Sleeve, and St. Ronan close in their track ; then followed Rosicrucian, Suffolk, and See Saw ; but on rounding Tattenham-corner the lot closed up, and ran in company into the straight, where the two leaders were beaten and suddenly disappeared from the van, the colours of Green Sleeve and Rosicrucian at the same time fading away. The running, through these withdrawals, was left with King Alfred on the lower ground, having Blue Gown in the centre, on the right of whom came Speculum, Paul Jones, See Saw, St. Ronan, and Suifolk. Franchise, who up to this point had been running well, suddenly collapsed on crossing the road, and immediately after Challoner was seen to dismount, he having ascertained that she had broken her leg badly. At the distance Paul Jones and See Saw were added to the beaten division, and the issue was now left with the Baron's outsider, King Alfred, and Blue Gown, the contest being watched with the most feverish excitement by the thousands comL.mitted to the judge's fiat. Half-way up, fthe former appeared to have the best of it, when loud shouts from the ring arose of "The Baron wins," were repeated from the hill-side and the stands but they had scarcely been raised when a countercheer for Sir Joseph arose, and shortly after Wells was seen quietly creeping up, and, catching King Alfred (who stopped to nothing) at the stand, won a fine race by half a length, very cleverly. Speculum finished a bad third, St. Ronan fourth, Rosicrucian fifth, Suffolk sixth, Orion seventh, Paul Jones eighth, Green Sleeve ninth. Then came, at wide intervals, Brother to Bird on the Wing, See Saw, Cap-arpie, and the favourite. A long interval separated these from Forest King, who did not pass the post. Vißcount and Franchise walked in with the crowd. Net value of the stakes £6876. The time, as taken by Benson's chronograph, was 2 minutes 43i seconds. Betting : 7 to 4 against Lady Elizabeth, 100 to 30 agst Blue Gown, 8 to 1 agst Paul Jones, 10 to 1 agst Suffolk, 100 to 8 agst Speculum, 100 to 7 agst Orion, 25 to 1 agst Rosicmcian, 33 to 1 agst Cap-a-pie, Pace, and Green Sleeve, 40 to 1 agst See Saw, 50 to 1 each agst St. Ronan and Forest King, 100 to 15 asjst King Alfred, and 100 to 1 agst Franchise.