THOBMANBY (1860).

Another memorable bero of the Blue Bibbdn was Thormanby, with whom Mr Merry won his first Derby, and few conquerors in that ' great race have been tried on more promising lines. The chestnut waa asked to concede Northern Light 131 b over the Derby distance, Now, Northern Light ha J Cape Flyaway a very oloso xaoe for the iiith Biennial' the week previously, and John Scott had already tried The Wizard to be a stone in front of Cape Flyaway^ bo that the old nuaßter of 'Whi'tef hall had some sound reasons (or considering the Derby as good as over. Aftei the Bath, race, John Scott wired to Matthew Dawson (who trained Tbormanby)', telling him what The -Wizard would do at Epsom. Mat replied jin two words, but they spoke volumes, and thoroughly expressed the vast confidence he had in his own horse. The answer was, " W t ho's afraid ? " According to Mr Merry'a estimate, Thormanby, in the trial, had given Northern Light 131 b and at least lOlbs beating, and, taking the line through the Bath Bianmai running, both he and Matthew Dawaon considered they held. The Wizard perfectly safe. In addition to having backed his horse to win a • very heavy , stake, Mr Merry, on the Monday before the race, accepted at Tatteraall's the following brace of wagers : J6IBOO to £1200 .on Umpire against Thormanby, and £1200 to £800 on The Wizard against Thormanby. Almost up to the last it was unknown who would hare the mount on Mr Merry's horse. As to the mystery in connection with the rider of Thormanby, it ahould be mentioned that a prominent candidate for this race, Buccaneer, had been "nobbled." Mr Merry was determined that Thormanby should not be got at. On the eventful day, distance was weighed out in yellow jacket and distinguishing white cap for Northern Light, who was started to make the running for his stable companion, while Sharpe went to scale in the famous yellow and black cap for Thormanby. But at the last moment in the paddock, the two jockeys exchanged caps, .and when the

mi ib wnwiwwii ifc w I*l "i ■ ■"«■ miii wa> yi »» i^^tTßirrfffftinvtiiTftr" competitors emerged on the course to take part in the preliminary canter and parade, it was seen that distance was on the back of Thormanby, while Sharpe steered the second string. How distance rode his first Derby winner and won Mr Merry his first Derby on Thornmanby is a matter of Turf history, the particulars of which most of the present generation are familiar wi in, save, perhaps,,, the facts mentioned above.