REMINISCENCES OF EPSOM. (The Field.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 25

REMINISCENCES OF EPSOM. (The Field.)

There are few men now living who may have heard the stentorian shout of " Who'll lay agin' Shey-lay-lee noo?" issuing from Jem Bland, as, in descending [the hill from Tattenham Corner, the Duke of Cleveland's bay colt Shillelagh seemed for a few strides to hold Mr Batson's Plenipotentiary — named after the hero of Captain Morris' wicked song, which, by the way, furnished another name to Lord Stradbroke's Boarding School Miss — and to be about to win the Derby of 54 years ago. In a second or two the exultant shout died away on the pale lips of its utterer, and Patrick' Conolly, having no taste for a close finish with Sam Chifney.for his opponent, shot Plenipotentiary out, and made the issue of the race a certainty. The way in which Mr Batson's magnificent chestnut strode down the hill was often spoken of with admiration by those who won their money on that memorable day. A 'great year, was it for Newmarket, that same 1834, as the first three horses in the Derby — Plenipotentiary, Shillelagh, and Glencoe — were all of them trained at the " little town in Cambridgeshire," where the first and last of the three had already tried conclusions, with the result that Plenipo conquered the winner of the Two Thousand without an effort. Lord Jersey, the owner of Glencoe, vowed that the race was all wrong, but Jem Eobinson, his rider, was of a contrary opinion. The Chifneys, then at the zenith of their fame, maintained that their horse, Shillelagh, would force 'both Plenipo and Glencoe to capitulate, and backed their opinion with characteristic confidence. That defeat of Shillelagh broke Sam Chifney's heart. Let us take a retrospective glance at the pains, perils, and risks which awaited Derby favourites when they made their way on foot from Newmarket to Epsom.