ABOUT THE LEGER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 253, 4 December 1914, Page 1 (Supplement)

ABOUT THE LEGER.

THIS GREAT RACK HAS BEEN WON BY A HORSE CRIPPLED WITH COR.NS.

Nearly 100,000 race-cards are sold every year at Lancaster during the week of tne great race.

The famous "Yorkshire roar," which invariably greets the winner of the St. Leger, has been heard at a distance of ten miles.

The late Fred Archer won the St. Leger on six occasions, but he does not hold the record. W. Scott won the race nine tunes between 1791 and 18S2.

The Leger is a little gold mine to the people ot Doncaster. So much money comes into the town that it saves the inhabitants a municipal rate of about 2s. in the pound.

It is an unwritten law that every visitor to Doncaster during the M. Leger week must purchase a packet of the butterscotch for which the place is famous.

A racing tout named Dawson placed arsenic in the watering-troughs on the Town Moor before the St, Leger ot 1808. A number of animals were poisoned, and Dawson was hanged for A's crime.

The first St. Leger, run on the moor at DoncHster in 1776, was named atter Colonel Anthony St. Leger better known as "Handsome Jack. Like tie Derby, only three-year-olds may take part "in the race.

Theodore, who won the St. Leger of 1822 at the long price of 100 to 1, was almost crippled with corns, lhe horse, in spite of his ailment, led from start to finish. How he managed to run is a mystery to this day.

Throstle, who won the St. Leger of 1894 at 40 to 1 against, was born blind. The animal was sentenced to be shot but liefore the order could be carried out the film which covered her eyes g'«ve way, and she recovered her sight.

Tho St. Leger used to be for \ts rowdyism and sharpers. In 18JU the military had to be called out to clear the moor of roughs, card-sharpers, and thimble-riggers. A pitched battle took place as a result.

Swynford holds the record for covering the mile and three-quarters at Doncaster in the quickest time. He ook three minutes four seconds. Ihe slowest time recorded goes to Charles AJI. This animal took three minutes fortyfive seconds in 1839.

Tlie present Lord Derby is Hon. Colonel df a Liverpool Regiment of Territorials. When he ran Swynford in the Leger of ItilO he promistd every man in the regiment a rie» busby rf the Bona won. Swyliford won all right, and Lord Derby's sporting offer cost him I,WU new headdresses.

All Yorkshire backed Apology in 1874. The mare was suppostd to have broken down a lay before the race but her owner ordered that she should be sent to the post if only on three legs. One of her legs, which was badly inflamed, was kept in a pail of cold water all through the night before the race, anl Apology was turned out the following lay as tit as could be. She won.

file famous horse, Lord Clifden, which was backed to win a fortune in the Lcger of 18<53, was lucky to win the race Some racing crooks, who evidently stood to lose a large amount of money in the event of the horses success, strewed broken glass all over its galloping ground. Fortunately the plot was frustrated. Curiously enough Lord Llitden lost the Derby of 1863 by slipping on a piece of orange-peel a few lengths from the winning-post.

One of tho most sensational St. Legers was won by Antonio, a 33 to 1 chance, five horses out of the field of nineteen failed to start and, after the race, each of the five owners objected to the winner. The stewards decided to run the race again and this time the owner of Antonio refused to send bis horse to the post His attitude was later on justified by the Jockey Club, when they reversed tlie decision of the stewards and awarded the race to Antonio.