THE AFTER LIFE OF ENGLISH DERBY WINNERS.

Under the above title an article, written by Mr M. Mayeock, appeared in the London "Sporting Times" just' previous to the running of the Derby of 1894. Mr Maycock traced, so far as tlie facts were ascertainable, the after lives of all the Derby winners from 1860 to 1893 inclusive. In introducing his historical notes he wrote : —

During the progress of my work more than one friend lias remarked, "Several of them have become cab horses, haven't they?" I believe this idea is by no means uncommon, but how far it- is well founded—so far, at least, as the history of thirty-four years enlightens us—may be gathered from what follows. True, John Jtfills, in his "Life of a Racehorse," brings the hero of a Blue Riband down t<> shafts of a hansom, with a touching frontispiece of "What I Came to at Last," but that? was pure unadulterated fiction. Many people believe to this day that Kangaroo, for whom the Marquis of Hastings paid upwards of 12,000 guineas in 1866, came down to a cab. Indeed it was so stated by a well-known writer in these columns, but it was not a fact, and was subsequently contradicted. Kangaroo, latterly the property of Mr Dixon, fell and broke his fetlock" joint in a Steeplechase Plate at Hambleclon Hunt Meeting in April, 1870, and was at once destroyed. His dam, Yarra Ynrra—after his early successes— was searched for high and low by Mr Blenkiron. and was at length found drawing a plough. He bought her for £100, but she produced nothing else of note. I find among my scraps that in May, 1871, one Cawdrey, the driver of a four-wheeler, was visited with a penalty of twenty shillings, or fourteen days, for having in his cab an animal lame in* all four legs, with a bad wound on the off fore fetlock. This poor brute was stated at the time to be Wild Rose. Little David, who won the Cambridgeshire in 1853, undoubtedly did run in a 'bus that plied between Kenningtcn Gate and the Bank; but all this is a digressitjn and I must '"hark back."

Diomed, who was the winner of the first Derby—like several subsequent Derby winners—went to America, and attained the age of thirty years. He is credited with being the father of the American Turf. The great Priam, too, was a marvellous triumph in the land of the "Stars and Stripes," and an offer of 4000 guineas to redeem him was not listened to. It would take too much space, however, to cover the whole field, and I must confine myself to the later period: — IB6o—Mb Merry's Thormauby, by Melbourne ob Windhound—-Alice Hawthorn. , After winning the Derby Thorinanby suffered from cracked. heels, and his next appearance was not until the St. Leger, for which he started first favourite at 9 to 4 against, but could get no nearer than fifth to St. Albans. On the Friday following he ran second in a field of seven to Sabreur, who won the Doncaster Cup. He next ran second in the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, at the Newmarket first October jJeetmg, which The Wizard, whom he had beaten in the Derby, won. Then he succumbed at Newmarket to Tom Bowline, to whom he was giving 51bs. In 1861, as a four-year-old, he was perhaps seen at his best. He won the Claret Stakes at Newmarket, and the Gold Cup at Ascot, beating St. Albans among others, but could only get fourth in the Goodwood Cup to Starke, The Wizard, and Optimist. He was then, however, burdened with all the penalties and giving the winner, a six-year-old—l4lbs. This was his last appearance on a racecourse. His first stock at the stud appeared in 1866. In nine seasons he was the eire of close upon one hundred winners, among whom may be mentioned Sunshine, Aquilo, Atlantic, Plaudit, Hester, Thorwalsden, Tomahawk, Crocus, Cachmere, Cap-a-pie, Camel, Normanby, Rostrevor, Charibeit, and others. Thormanby died at Newmarket in March, 18/5, at the age of eighteen years. He was always the property of Mr James Merry, who bought him from Mr Plummer, his breeder, for 350 guineas. 1861—Colonel Townley's , Kettledrum, by Rataplan—Mincemeat's dam. Rested after winning the Derby till the St. Leger, for which he started favourite at 6 to 4; but sustained a head defeat from Caller Ou, who started at 1000 to 15. On the following Friday he made a dead heat of it with Brown Duchess in the Doncaster Cup, subsequently walking over for a division. He finished the season by a walk over for the Select Stakes at Newmarket. This terminated his racing career, and he went to the Belhus Stud. His,progeny in England comprised Cymbal, My Uncle, The iJoy, Knuts* ford, Ha'wthorndale, Master Butterfly, Aintree, and a few other winners, besides Lady Langden, the dam of Hampton and Sir Bevys. At the end of the season of 1872 he was sold for £4000 to Count Forgach, and sent to that nobleman's stud at Nagy Szalancz, in Hungary, where he died in 1885. His best offspring abroad was Amaranthus. 1862—Mr C. Snewikg's Caractacus, by Kingston—Defenceless. I described in my "Derby Dotlets" this time last year how the late Mr Snewing entrusted the steering of this sensational horse to a stable boy named Parsons, and how the owner himself sprinkled the track with paper for the horse to follow round Tattenham Corner into the straight It was a sensational race in every respect. On returning to weigh in the jockey could not draw the

weight. The bridle was sent for, and. "Oh, the agony I felt at that moment. I would not undergo it again for £1000," the owner rjmarked to Mr Corlett some years afterwards. The bridle just turned the beam. Then came Lord Stamford's memorable objection about the starting point, which Admiral Rous and his four associate stewards overruled on the ground that made five minutes too late, or the Derby would have had to be run over agaiu. Wheu Mr Snewiug awoke tht next morning in hiuston Square, although the house was adorned with blue ribbons, Ji« could not realise it was all right until he saw his "Times. He won over £25,000 over the race, and took £10,000 to £2000 about Caractacus for the St. I*eger, but the horse broke dowu in both forelegs and never ran ag.un. Mr .>newing then weut to live near Wauord. and I'aractacus for some time afterwards served forty mares a season at 20 guineas, hist at Highfield Paddock:, near St. Albam. and 'latterly at Holywell Stud Farm near Watford. His best produce was Cnptivator, who won the Great Metropolitan stakes in 1871, Ruffle, and Cladius. In 1872 Mr Snewing—who once refused £5000 for him—sold him for just half that figure to Mr Strass. who kept a riding school at St. Petersburg, and who bought Cliristmas Carol ac the same time for the Russian Government.. On arrival in Russia Caractacus was sent to the Imperial Stud at Hrenoosky, in the Government of Voronesk, where he died in 1878. I learn from an authentic source in Ru.-ssia that bis progeny amounted in all to fifty-seven, of which but few were of any value. 1863—Mr R. C. Naylor's Macaron,i by SWEETMEAT—JOCOSE. Won the Drawing Room Stakes at Goodwood, the lfork and Doncaster Cups, and the Select Stakes at Newmarket. He was not entered for the St. Leger. In his owner's judgment no race was too short or too long for him. At the end of his racing career he was sold to the late Baroness Mever de Rothschild for 7100gs. He went to the stud in 1866, and among his best produce may be mentioned Melody, Macgregor, Couronne de Fer, Breechloader, Voltumo, Poor Thing, Ramsbury, Repentance colt, Lily Agnes (dam of Ormonde), Spmaway, Cameiia, Jessie Agnes, Maximilian, Sir Marmaduke, Macheath, and Bonny Jean. He died at Mentmore Stud Farm on December 12th, 1887, and was buried in the ground there, close to the grave of King Tom. < 1864—Mr W. I'Arson's Blair Athol, by Stock well—Bunk Bonny, After winning the Derby was sent over to compete for the Grand Prize of Paris. The severe struggle (fifteen spur marks were counted on his sides) at Epsom and the journey to France considerably upset him, he ran very green and sustained a defeat by two lengths from Vermont; Fille de I'Air, the Oaks winner, - —ng third. He defeated Ely, on whom odds were laid, in the new Mile Triennial at Ascot, and he won the Gratwicke Stakes, at Goodwood, walking over for the Zetland Stakes at the same meeting. His next appearance was at York, in the Great Yorkshire Stakes, where, with 2 to 1 on him, he was defeated by The Miner, who started at 20 to 1 in a field of six, Ely being third. This was due to Chaloner being caught napping. ile won the St. Leger, beating General Peel, as in the Derby, thus realising "The Gem's" prophecy in "Bell's Life " of the week before to the letter: — " The General's beat," is the cry, 'Xis the Derby again to bo seen, Blair Athol conies heme in a canter, Three cheers for the straw and the green. He was cut on the knee in this race by either Ely or Baragah, and it was his last appearance. Just after the race, M. Cavaliero offered 7000gs for him, but this was refused. Mr I'Anson subsequently offered to let that gentleman, who represented the Austrian Government, have him for 8000gs, but the offer was declined. John Jackson—

" Jock o' Fairfield " —however, bought him for 7500g5, a rare bargain, and took him to his new home at Fail-field, near York, where a special suite of apartments were built for him. In 1868 he was sold to Mr Blenkiron, the founder of the Middle Park Stud, for 50O0gs. Mr Blenkiron died in 1871, and at the subsequent sale, after some spirited bidding, Blair Athol was knocked down to Captain W. N. Cooper, on behalf of the Cobham Stud Company, for 12,500g5, amid a burst of cheering that echoed over Lee and Eltham. Qn the break-up of the Cobham Stud in 1879 he was sold to Mr Wolfe for 4500g5. He next faced the auctioneer for the last time in 1881, and was bought by Mr Stewart for 1950g5. His new quarters were the Pound Stud Farm, • at Cobham, where he died from inflammation of the lungs on Sunday, September 3rd, 1882, at the age of twenty-one years. Such in brief is the career of perhaps the grandest horse of the centuiy. It is said of him that when his picture was painted he would remain for over an hour without moving a muscle. Among his best produce may be mentioned Prince Charlie, Silvio, Crai j Millar, Scottish Queen, Cecilia, Insignia, Rob Roy, Mountain Dew, Child of the Mist, i'ortnellan, Claremont, Panic, Altyre, Penguin', Bandage, Conaglen, Gartley Bell, Glen AHyn, Ethus, Bonnie Scotland, Ecossais, Andred, and Glenalniond. 1865—Count Laobaxgk's Gladiateur, by Monarque—Miss Gi.adiator. This great horse's winnings as a three-year-old totalled up to £25,994, which stood as the record till Donovan won £38,666 in 1889. His winnings included the Two Thousand, Derby, Grand Prize of Paris, St. Leger, Drawing Room Stakes at Goodwood, and Grand Prize of Paris Autumn meeting, ■ius only defeat being in the Cambridgeshire, carrying 9st 121b. For this race he started first favourite in a field of thirty-six, and would have gone close but for being, chopped at the start. In 1865 he had two walk-overs and a win—the Gold Cup at Ascot, by forty lengths —in England, and three wins in France. He then went to the stud. In 1870, on account of the war, Count Lagrange sold his horses at Tattersall's, on which occasion Gladiateur was knocked down to Mr Blenkiron for 5800gs. He had already stood at Middle Park for a couple of seasons, and his first yearlings realised high prices at the sale in 1869. On July 26th, 1872, at the Middle Park sale, he became jointly owr.ad

by Captain Ray and Mr Harcourt for 7000gs. iii July, 1875, this partnership was dissolved, and Captain Ray bought him outright for 4300g5, £4000 of which amount was covered by insurance at Lloyd's. Gladiateur died in January. 1876. His progeny did not distinguish themselves to any great extent. Hero was a smart two-year-old in •1874,-and perhaps bis best foal, but he never lived to compete in the classic races of the following year. 1866—Mr Sutton's Lord Lvon, by Stockwell— Paradigm. Lord Lyon was leased from General Pearson, who bred him, for his racing career. After winning the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby ue suffered a half-length defeat from Rustic in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Ascot, to whom he was giving 61b. He then won the St. Leger, but with 5 to I on was third only to Rama and Ackworth in the Doncaster Cup. He then won the Grand Duke Michael Stakes at Newmarket, the Select Stakes, and a match with Rustic at even weights at the Houghton meeting, where, however, he was beaten by Friponnier, Rustic being third, two days before their match. In 1867 he won the New Biennial at Ascot, beating Wild Moor and Harpenden. His last race was at Lincoln Autumn Meeting, when Custance, on Rama, in the Queen's Plate, again defeated his old mount after a terrific race by a short head. He then went to the stud, and in 1876 was sold by General Pearson to Lord Rosebery and Mr" Clai-e-Vyner for £4500. At the stud he begat Placida, Touchet, Biserta, Minting, - Cteiir de Lion, Beanstalk, Lady Ronald, Water Lily, Poursuivant, Speedwell, En Jacine, Tantalus, Bonnie Maiden, Primula, Subduer, and Zndig. At one time his owners decided to destroy him, but the late Mr John Winteringham, of Croft, near Darlington, begged him off and kept liim there till the soring of 1887, when lie was shot on Tuesday, April 12th, of that year. 1867—Mb Chaplin's Hermit, by Newminstbk —seclusion. The winner of this sensational Derby stands out more prominently as a sire than a racehorse. After winning the Blue Riband at 66 to 1 in a snowstorm, he took a biennial and the St. James's Palace Stakes at Ascot, but was beaten by Achievement in the St Leger, and again by Friponnier and Longchamns in the Grand Duke Michael Stakes and Newmarket Derby respectively. As a four-year-old Julius gave him lib and a two lengths' beating in a match for £1000, over the Two Middle Miles at Newmarket, As a five-year-old he competed unsuccessfully in three handicaps, including the Royal ■ Hunt and Stewards' Cups, after which latter race, in wfojch he once more burst a blood vessel, he retired to the stud at Blankney at the modest fee of 20 guineas a mare, winch was afterwards increased to 100, and again to 250 guineas. Among his children may be mentioned Holy Friar, Trappist, Clarion, Peter, Out of Bounds, Angela, Ttiebais, Adoration, Shotover, St. Marguerite, St. Blaise, Lonely, Nellie Marden, Wutsperer, Qaeen Adelaide, White Nun, Zealot, Dame Agnes, St. Medard, Grecian Bride, Whistle Jacket, Priestess, Astrologer, Rusticus, Hazlehatch, St. Crispin, oardinal Mai, Heresy, Gay Hermit, Heloise, St. Mirin, Whitefriar, Coy, Candlemas, bad, Surprise, Hermitage, Quilt, Sweetbriar horse, Friar Rush, Southampton, Whipper-in, Aigill, Nautilus, Hamako, Cassock, Exile 11., >jc Helena, Philosophyl Tristan, Grey Friars, Timothy, Retreat, Seclusion, Friar's Balsam, and Heaume. Lady Hermit is either his or Galopin's daughter. From 1873 to 1890 inclusive his progeny won no less than three hundred and fifteen thousand odd pounds in stakes alone in England. In France from 1881 to 1890 they won twenty-seven thousand odd pounds, making a grand total of over £.>43,000. Mr Chaplin, who bought him as a yearling for 1000 guineas from Mr Blerikiron, never parted with him, and he died at Blankney, aged twenty-six years, in April, 1890. Mr Chaplin had his skeleton scientifically and artistically mounted by Mr Rowland Ward, and presented it to the Royal Veterinary College in Camden Town, where it npw remains. * 1868—Sir Joseph Hawley's Blue Gow>-, by Beadsmax —Bas Blec. Blue Gown's victory gave his master —who bred him —his fourth Derby. As a three-year-old he secured eight wins in eleven races, including the Derby, the Ascot Cup, and the Fitzwilliam Stakes at Doncaster (he wa3 not in the St. Leger). He ran eleven times in 1869, winning on eight occasions. As a five-year-old he ran five times, only winning once. His last race was at Lincoln, when he could get no nearer than third to Musket and Dutch Skater. Sir Joseph Hawley sold him in the spring of 1870 for £&COO, to Herr Auure, to go to Germany. He, however, ran in Prince Pless's name in England in that year. Poor Blue Gown was distinctly more fortunate on land than at sea. After five years in Germany, where in 1879 he headed the list of winning stallions, and headed them all but one in 1878, he arrived at the Cobham Stud August Ist, 1876, from Berlin via Harwich after a terrible tossing at sea. In 1880 he was sold to Mr James R, Keene, of isew York, for 20,000 dollars, and was shipped for that city in the steamship Victoria. The vessel encountered fearful weather, unshipping her rudder, and becoming unmanageable. This resulted in the death of Blue Gown at sea November 25th, 1880. As a stud horse he left behind him no progeny of note beyond Tomboy and Carmelite. 1869—Mb R. Jardise's Pretekder, by AbVEXTURER—FsRINA. His next performance after winning the Derby was to take the Great Northern Leger, at Stockton. With odds of 6t05 on him he failed to get a place in the Doncaster St. Leger, won by Pero Gomez, who again defeated him by half a length in the Doncaster Stakes. He was also second to whom he was giving 71b in the Newmarket Derby 5 . As a four-year-old he competed seven times without a win. In 1871 he was unsuccessful on four occasions. He then retired from the turf. Towards the end of his racing career he became rather thick winded owing to a polypus in his throat-, which he got nd of one day after a severe fit of coughing. He died on September 13th, 1878, at Sheffield Lane Paddocks, where a headstone without a date marks bis grave alongside that of bis sire, Adventurer. He left no progeny of note except Procris. He belonged to Sir Robert Jardine throughou. nis career down to the time of his death. {To be continued).