NAMING OF ENGLISH CLASSIC DEPENDED ON TOSSING OF A COIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27091, 27 May 1949, Page 8

NAMING OF ENGLISH CLASSIC DEPENDED ON TOSSING OF A COIN

SPORTING

Few, if any, races arouse more world-wide interest than the Melbourne Cup and the English Derby, and another race for the classic will be run at Epsom to-morrow week. In “The History and Romance of the Derby,” Mr Edward Moorhouse refers to a tradition, treasured by the descendants of Sir Charles Bunbury, whose horse Diomed, won the first Derby, in 1780, that the name of the race was decided on the toss of a coin. Lord Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury, it is suggested, discussed the matter over the dinner fable, decided that the race should be'called after one or the other, and then allowed chance to settle the question. If this is actually the case Sir Charles was consoled for losing the toss by winning the first race. During the first World War the Derby was transferred to Newmarket, but it never had the thrill for most people that the spsom race invariably produces. Many of the leading figures of the Turf have spent large fortunes in trying to win the Derby, but the majority of them did not experience the thrill of leading in the winner. One of the lucky owners was John Gully, butcher, publican, prize-fighter, and member of Parliament. He is said to have netted £ 100,000 from his horses, St. Giles and Margrave, when they won the Derby and the St. Leger of 1832. Suspicions shaped themselves about the Derby of that year and it was even suggested that St. Giles was a four-year-old.