THE DERBY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 988, 3 June 1930, Page 12

THE DERBY

FAMOUS RACE TO BE RUN TOMORROW DIP INTO HISTORY The one and only English Derby is to be run at Epsom tomorrow, although the actual starting time is about 2.45 a.m. on Thursday, New Zealand time. The result will reach the Dominion a couple of minutes after the horses pass the post. Among the prominent candidates engaged in this most famous of all the classics are Diolite and Silver Flare, first and third respectively in the first three-year-old classic, the Two Thousand Guineas, run four weeks ago; The Scout IT., winner of the Newmarket Stakes (10 furlongs); and Christopher Robin, winner of the Grenham Stakes. History of the Race The folloNving history of the Derby is taken from Reginald White’s book. “Ancient Epsom”: A great sportsman, the 12th Earl of Derby, took the greatest interest in all manner of sport throughout the county and specially countenanced the races of that period with his patronage and support, and it is known that he was for many years a perpetual steward of the races in the same manner as other notable gentlemen of the neighbourhood who succeeded him, such as Baron de Tessier, of Woodcote Park, Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bart., his son, “Squire” Arthur Heathcote. of “Durrlans.” and in later times the Eirl of Rosebery, also of “Durdans.” Here, then, at “The Oaks,” was conceived the two great weight-for-age races run at Epsom, and still in existence after a space of nearly 150 years. Cfassic Novelties These weight-for-age races for three-year-olds were not complete novelties. In the year 177 G was established the St. Leger Stakes, by Lieu-tenant-General Anthony St. Leger, and named after him. These new races probably made a welcome change from the long and tiring affairs run in four-mile heats, which must have become somewhat monotonous, and required a large space of ground for the purpose. Circular courses had not become general and it must have been impossiblo lor spectators to view but a small portion of such races, except from horseback. One notices that in the early accounts of the Epsom races the Downs where racing took place were generally alluded to as Banstead Downs. The region called Banstead Downs then extended from Croydon to the top of Reigate Hill, and as far as I-leadley and to Guildford. Banstead was quite a well-known village arid, moreover, was situated about the centre of this district, and on the very summit of the Downs. The actual Epsom Downs occupied but a small area then, as now, merely from what is now Buckles Gap to a little beyond Tattenham Corner, whereas the Downs in Banstead Parish extended actually from Sutton to Reigate and Headley. In the days of four-mile heats, merely the last half-mile or so was actuallyrun on Epsom Downs. The four mile races usually started near Barrow Hedges, to the east of the boundary of the present Banstead Asylum, and at Barrow Hedges were the stables for the competitors, as can be seen from an early written programme headed “Epsom Races,” and dated 1777. The distance along the straight from Barrow Hedges and thence down the last half-mile of the present course would be just four miles. These races, except for the lack of obstacles, were very little different from the original, point-to-point races. Even in present days Epsom races are run over three separate parishes, Epsom. Walton and Banstead. Story Of Romance Here, then, we have the story of the romance .and the ale-house connected with the inception of our two famous races, the Oaks in 1779 and the Derby Slakes in 1780. In the year 1780 racing was by no means regularised, and the authority of the Jockey Club scarcely ran beyond the boundaries of Newmarket Heath, although even then there was compiled and published a semi-official racing calendar, in which races at courses other than at Newmarket were dealt with, possibly the courses where the rules were based on those of the Jockey Club. The club did not then possess the power which it has since, and by gradual degrees, assumed, and although there was actually racing on more courses in 1780 than in the present day, these meetings were conducted by stewards appointed from noblemen and gentry of influence in the respective districts. The County of Surrey at that date was ill provided with racecourses, as only three existed, Epsom, Egham and Guildford, but many courses existed in every corner of the kingdom. In the 3* ear 1779 was run the first of

our three-year-old races, the Oaks Stakes, which was won by the Earl of Derby's filly, Bridget, as was appropriate. The following year, 17S0, witnessed the first race for the Derby Stakes, which was not- then on a permanent basis, but was renewed yearly as the first year of a renewal of the Derby Stakes or the second year, and so alternatively until the year 1835. The First Winner The first Derby was won by Diomed. The race was run at the spring meeting, commencing May 3. There was a later meeting in October. To add to the interest of the meeting there was a main of cocks fought for. birds the property of gentlemen of Middlesex and Surrey. The second Derby was won by O’Kelly’s Eclipse. O’Kelly then resided at Epsom. In 1787 the Derby was won by the Earl of Derby with Sir Peter Tearle. What would the noble owner have thought had any seer prophesied that 13( years would elapse before the house of Stanley would again annexe the prize? The Royal colours were carried first past the post in 1784 by the Prince of Wales’s Sir Thomas. The year 1801 saw the filly Eleanor win both the Derby and Oaks. Eleanor was a granddaughter of Eclipse, and from this mare came in direct descent Melbourne, who Avon in 1853, and Lord Rosebery’s Sir Visto, the winner in 1595; another Derby romance. In 1812, when Napoleon was projecting his disastrous Moscow campaign, Mr. Ladbroke, a London banker residing at Headley, won the Derby Avith Octavius, by a verdict recorded as half a head. The name of Ladbroke still remained as a memory in Epsom in a road named after him. In 1821 Gustavus Avon for Mr. J. Hum ter, Avho gave but £25 for the horse at Hampton Court. Wages Those Days A contemporary account said that although men wore paid the large sum of Is 6d a day to make a Avay for the horse race, there Avas great trouble in keeping the course clear. The Royal party went over to Headley to lunch with Mr. Ladbroke—there Avas no grandstand in those days—and during their long absence the croAvd indulged themselves and somewhat overdid the thing. Some adjourned to the town, and others to booths, and the consequence Avas a kind of beery chaos, the croAvd surging everywhere over the course. Sam Day, who rode Gustavus, said he had to wind in and out like a dog at a fair. After the Duke of York’s Moses Avon in 1822 a prize light took place, at Avhioh the Duke Avas present on his hack. It was fought in the bottom between the Rubbing House and the present Derby starting post. A Rea) Treble In 1824 Jim Robinson, the jockey, brought off a real treble event. Ho took long odds he Avould Avin the Derby and the Oaks, which he did on Cedric and Cobweb, and Avould get married in the same week. On the Saturday he Avas married.

Tli© year IS2B witnessed the first dead heat in the history of the race. The Duke of Rutland’s Cadland and Mr. Petrie's The Colonel could not be separated by the judge, but in the subsequent run-off the victory was with the Duke. This Derby was commemorated by a representation of the finish on the sign of the small inn at Mickleham, called the “Running Horses.” When Frederick won the Derby in 1829 it was his first race, as he had never run in public. As showing the contrast between the present and ancient transit methods, Mr. White related how Priam, the winner in .1830, left Newmarket on foot on the Friday week before Derby Day, the party reaching quarters at Mickleham with nine clear days to complete the preparation for the race. The journey could now be performed both ways easily in one day. Mr. White said they now arrived at a period signalised by the exploits of ruffians, who exploited the turf for gain by any means available, and who stuck at nothing to gain their ends. Good Old Days Doping, substitution, poisoning, nobbling of horses and jockeys was becoming rife, and continued until mastered by the authority of the Jockey Club. Sir Giles, which won the Derby 1532, was owned by one Robert Ridsdale, a confederate and partner of John Gully. They were both professional turfites, and, in their way, remarkable men. Ridsdale eventually came to an inglorious and squalid end This man, the winner of two Derbies, and the possessor at one time of great wealth, prominent in the hunting field, and the promoter of many fraudulent coups on the turf, was eventually found dead in a loft at Newmarket. His sole assets were the rags that carried his carcase and three halfpence in his pocket. At this period—--IS33—the Jockey Club had not sufficient power to enforce its authority on racing at large, but ere long commenced to cure the rascality and robberies which were at this period r o rif© and so dangerous to sport. At this time scandals, swindling and evil practices were common. Matters, however, were eventually righted, and the turf was purged of the evil influences. The Epsom Executive made extraordinary efforts, acting under instructions, to control the huge crowds now patronising the Derby, and to preserve order. A tragic sequel to Ray Middleton winning the race in 1536 was the Hon. Berkeley Craven committing suicide owing to his losses over the race. The year 1838 was a notable year for Epsom, the race being won by Amato, the property of Sir Gilbert Heathcote, and trained on Epsom Downs by an Epsom trainer, Ralph Sherwood, the father of Tom and Robert Sherwood. Amato was an

unknown quantity. J-Ie was never seen in public before the Derby, and was scarcely more than a pony—l 3 hands. The Sporting Spirit After the race the winner had a wonderful reception, and the public, who could hardly have benefited financially, ignored their losses and gave horse, jockey and owner an immense ovation. Amato broke down after the race, and never ran again. He died at Epsom in January, 1543. and Sir Gilbert had him interred in “Durdans” under a suitable monument, near where also repose Ladas, Sir Visto and Cicero, who won the Derby for Lord Rosebery. It was in Amato’s year that Derby Day was altered from the Thursday to the Wednesday, and during four days of the meeting in 1839 there was frost, snow, hail, rain and a north-east wind enough to cut one in two. The Derby was run in the heaviest snow storm of the year. The Derby Day of 1840 was signalised by the presence of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort. Great preparations had been made for the event. A special carriage road was laid out through Woodcote Park for the royal carriages and horses to avoid the crowd, and proceed to the course from the lodge in Wilmerhatch Lane to the lodge on Epsom Downs. In this year the raised lawns were made “as we remember them,” but no betting took place there. This came later. The betting had always taken place at the betting post on the hill. Two Ring-Ins The story of the 1844 Derby disclosed the exposure of perhaps the last of the series of disgraceful scandals that had been prevalent. The actual winner was decreed to be Orlando, who finished second to a horse which ran under the name of Running Rein, a three - y car -old. whereas he really was a four-year-old named Maccabeus. The swindle was exposed by the energy and acumen ©f Lord Bentinck. The true Running Rein was purchased as a foal by a man known as Goodman, but whose real name was Goodman Levy, a professional turfite with a largo stud of horses. Maccabeus was also Levy’s property. The substitution took place in September, 18-12, and the elder horse was transferred temporarily to Mr. Alexander Wood, a corn merchant of Epsom. The animal was still under Goodman’s control. . Mr. Wood, in the subsequent law suit, was proved to be not concerned in the matter except innocently. He was a well-known Epsom business man, and a good dea.l concerned with the purchase and sale of property in the parish, and his name occurred on numerous title deeds relating to land in Epsom. Goodman and his clique, it was said, would have cleaned up at least .C 60.000 had the fraud not been exposed. An- j other runner in the race proved after- j ward to be a four-year-old. a horse j named Leander, who was struck into and injured at Tn t ten ham Corner so | badly that he had to be shot. What the Inquest Showed His skull was recovered, and it was found that he was not a three-year-old. In this same Derby two jockeys, Sam Rogers and John Braham, were after inquiry warned off. Pyrrhus the First won the Derby of 1846, though it was said that Sir Tatton Sykes (owned and ridden by Bill Scott, tlie jockey), who was leading until a stride or two of the post, could have won easilv had his rider not been bemused with" brandy. This year, for the first time, the horses now assembled in Sir Gilbert Heathcote’s paddock, an innovation due to the suggestion of Lord G. Bentinck. thereby giving the public a chance to view the horses, which to many was an impossibility when the horses were saddled at The "Warren as formerly.

In 1847 Mr. Fed ley, a bookmaker, and son-in-law of Gully, won the race with Cossack. In one way it was a memorable occasion. The LondonBrighton railway had, a few months before the Derby week, been extended from Croydon to Epsom Town. Hitherto the nearest stations for Epsom were Croydon and Kingston, on the Southwestern Railway. Immense crowds besieged the station at London Bridge to travel by the new route. Early corners managed all right, but later ones found a state of chaos. Tickets could not be issued fast enough, and the general arrangements were hopelessly inadequate. Thousands of people were left behind. Those who could not obtain road accommodation started to walk, but arrived too late to see the Derby. The railway arrangements broke down, and the small locomotives of the day were not able to haul the heavily loaded trains up the gradients, and the trains had to be divided, and the stranded portions had to remain until engines came to their assistance. In .1844 the Derby course was altered. In previous years it had been run on the last 3 2 furlongs of the old Cup course, which started in the dip between the Rubbing House and the present starting point. The old Derby course was on the far side of Sherwoods. and consequently out of sight of the stands for the first half-mile, iho start for the new course was below Sherwood’s, and In sight of the stands. It was still to be seen below the present course, to which level it was altered in 1871.