THE EPSOM DERBY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 130, 3 June 1899, Page 3

THE EPSOM DERBY.

The great classic event of the English turf—the Derby of 1899—has been lost and won. It probably ranks among the sensational races for the event inasmuch as an odds on favourite in Flying Fox won, while the much-talked of French colt Holocauste broke his off fore pastern and liad to be destroyed. There is every reason to think that Flying Fox is a really good colt, and a worthy son of Orme, who was got by the famous Ormonde from Angelica. Flying Fox belongs to the Duke of Westminster, and last season won three times in five starts, his victories being in the New Stakes at Ascot, the Stockbridge Foal Stakes and the Criterion Stakes, at Newmarket. This season he has Avon the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby. He was trained at the celebrated Kingsclere establishment by John Porter, one of England's best thoroughbred mentors. Porter has now trained the winner of the Derby on nine occasions.

Since 1889 ncnv conditions have goTerned the value and system of forfeit 5n connection with the Derby, and the full worth of the race now is 6000 soys. The richest Derby on record was that of Lord Lyon, in 1866, who then won for his owner £7350.^ The first Derby was run on May 4, 1780. The winner of the Two Thousand Guineas has won the Derby on seventeen occasions, those that have landed the double event being Smolensko 1313, Cadland 1828. Bay Middleton 1836, Cotherstone 1843, West Australian 1853, Macaroni 1863, Gladiateur 1865, Lord Lyon 1866, Pretender 1869,

Shotover 1882. Ormonde 1891, Ayrshire ISBB, Common 1891. Tsinglass 1893, Ladas 1894, Galtee More 1897, Flying Pox 1899. The headings of the pedigree of the Derby winner read: —

A London 'Evening News" scribe recently remarked: Flying Fox is ft colt who does not carry a great deal of lumber, and he is a wear-and-tear sort of customer.